Adewale, Omisore win Vemp National Wheel Chair Tennis Open

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Number one seeds in the men and women wheel chair tennis in the country, Alex Adewale and Kafayat Omisore Friday confirmed their ranking by emerging winners of the second edition of the annual Vemp Limited National Wheel Chair Tennis Open Championship held at the tennis court of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
In the female category, Kafayat Omisore defeated second seed, Folunke Shodeinde by two straight sets of 6/0, 6/4 to emerge winner while Alex Adewale beat hard fighting Ukari Williams by 6/4, 6/3 to be crowned champion in the men category.
Speaking at the finals, National Wheel Chair Tennis Coach, Frank Termena expressed happiness with the sponsors noting that the upsets recorded in the week long tournament is an indication that the game is growing in the country positing that with similar championships organised regularly, Nigerian players will be in top form ahead of major competitions.
” Kudos must go to the sponsor for identifying with the athletes who from their performance showed that there is ability in disability. The upsets recorded is an indication that wheelchair tennis is growing and with regular tournaments, Nigeria will be a dominant name in the game not only in Africa but at the global level.
He used the opportunity to make a passionate appeal to the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare to use his good offices and ensure that the sports is re-absorbed in the forthcoming National Sports Festival to be hosted by Delta State .
Winners of the tournament in separate interviews, were full of gratitude to the sponsor of the tournament even as they implored other corporate organisations to emulate them and invest in wheel chair tennis which according to them have players that can rule the game at the global level.
“We’re very happy emerging champions because the opposition was great and all the players tried very hard to dethrone us but at the end of the day, our training and experience did the magic for us.
“It’s equally important we commend the sponsor for believing in what we can do and we appeal to corporate Nigeria to invest in the game of wheel chair tennis because we have quality players that can win laurels for the country at the international level”, they chorused.
The duo also used the opportunity to join calls for the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare to tamper justice with mercy and allow wheelchair tennis to be part of the National Sports Festival tagged ‘Delta 2022’.
At the end of the finals, trophies and cash prizes was presented to the winners.