Nigerian wheelchair tennis duo, Alex Adewale and Kafayat Omisore have taken the country’s international sports image to another height, after emerging champions of the men’s and women’s singles of the Puma ITF Wheelchair Tennis Futures in Abuja.
Sports247.ng can report that their victories marked a glorious return by Nigeria to the wheelchair international stage after a few years of absence due to financial challenges.
Adewale, a London 2012 Paralympian, defeated Kenyan top seed, Peter Naveh 6-1, 6-0 while Omisore also got the better of Jane Ndenga of Kenya 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Prior to the final on Saturday at National Tennis Centre, Package B, Abuja, Adewale paired two-time Paralympian Wasiu Yusuf to claim the doubles title at the expense of Kenya’s Peter Naveh and Collins Omonde.
Omisore also teamed up with Kemi Oluwasegun to beat Ndenga, who paired Nigeria’s Foluke Shodehinde, to clinch the women’s doubles title in the $3, 000 prize-money event.
Former president of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Engineer Sani Ndanusa, who facilitated the tournament and picked the players’ bills, pledged to ensure the country consolidates on the success.
Ndanusa stressed that the success ensured Nigeria reclaimed its status as a leading force in the sport in Africa.
He pledged: “These players would be motivated to ensure they put up a similar display at the African Championship billed for Accra Ghana in February 2019.”
