Young tennis players show their prowess
By Phares Mutembei
Some of Kenya’s youngest and talented tennis players battled it out at the Eight Series Tournament, at Sadili Oval Sports Club, Nairobi.
The four-day Virgin Atlantic/ Sadili tennis clinic offered an opportunity to the players to learn more techniques from some of Kenya’s experienced coaches.
The clinic also presented talented players with the opportunity to win scholarships to top schools in United Kingdom, aboard Virgin Atlantic!
At only nine years, Nigel Odhiambo’s abilities shone. The Class Four pupil at Kilimani Junior Academy won against Antony Oita.
“I started playing tennis a few years ago, but I’m still working on my forehand and backhand. I’m learning how to control shots from my opponents and learning their secret. But I also try to play tricks, like lobs or overheads,” said Odhiambo.
He credits his good performance to physical training and accuracy in hitting the ball.
During Kenya’s biggest tennis event, the Kenya Open, he made it to the quarterfinals in the Under-10 category.
Ten-year-old Belinda Awino performances on the court are breathtaking and coaches say she is set to become a champion. At the tournament, she trounced Scotland’s Izzy Stichbury 4-1. Her background is strong and the Standard Three pupil at Kibera Primary School says her dream is to play in the US and at Wimbledon Open in a few years.
That, she says, might give her an opportunity to meet (for the second time) tennis star Serena Williams!
“I met Serena when she visited Sadili a few years ago. I had just started playing tennis,” she said.
Nine-year-old Claire Muthoni is gradually proving what a tennis star she can become.
“I started playing tennis three years ago and I’m having a lot of fun learning new ways of playing it. I win games because I try to avoid making errors and making sure I’m in control,” says Muthoni, a Class Five pupil at St Christopher’s School, Karen.
