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Thunder struck twice on the same spot at the weekend when defending champions in the men and women’s singles of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Open tournament, Imeh Joseph and Oyinlomo Quadri respectively, withstood all opposition to retain their titles.
The victories came at the finals of the 43rd edition of the championship decided at the Package ‘B’ of the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja.
On Saturday, Joseph came from a set down to beat hard-fighting Oparaoji Uche, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 to emerge champion and win the title back-to-back.
For his efforts, Imeh got a giant trophy and the N1 million star prize at stake.
In the women’s singles cadre, showed that there is nothing like her in Nigeria’s tennis when she beat America-based Marylove Edwards to retain the title she won back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.
In the battle of teenagers, Quadri prevailed 6-1, 6-0 to take the giant trophy for keeps. She also got the N1 million star prize.
Quadri later paired with Toyin Asogba to win the women’s doubles title, beating the pair of Salami Khadijat and Adeusi Jesutoyosi 6-1, 6-0.
The men’s doubles title went to the duo of Adehi Oche and Musa Mohammed, who forced the pair of Abamu Matthew and Michael Chima to retire at 5-0 in the first set.
In the wheelchair category, Alex Adewale eased past Wasiu Yusuf 6-3, 7-5 to win the men’s singles title, while Nwaozuzu Chituru came from a set down to dispatch Khafayat Omisore 2-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Declaring the championship closed, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by the Ag Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, charged Nigerian youths to shun violence and make good use of the opportunities provided by the apex bank to be actively engaged in useful ventures, including sporting activities, especially tennis that has the CBN Junior, Senior and wheelchair categories annually.
He promised continuous sponsorship of the annual championship and assured that the 43rd edition would not be the end.