TENNIS: Kenyan youngsters out to excel in Dar

PS MInistry of Education Dr Richard Belio Kipsang (left0, presents a trophy to Dorothy Kamwilu Principal Alliance Girls High School and Damaris Musera. [PHOTO:JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Damaris Musera of Alliance Girls School will be in Tanzania to defend her girls’ tennis singles title in the Brookside East Africa School Games.

Musera beat Paige Mbugua of St Marys 4-2 in an all-Kenyan affair in the finals of last year’s FEASSSA games held at Lango College in Lira, Uganda. Kenya will send a team of eight players - four boys and four girls.

Achu Madheiu, Judy Nkatha, Petty Andanda, Martin Luvega and Reuben Njuguna, all of Shadrack Kimalel School, will also be battling for top honours. Chizi Mutsumi of Malezi School and Aaditya Dahiya of Jalaram complete the list of players who will be seeking glory on the tennis courts.

However, Mutsumi, the girls’ doubles champion, will not defend her title in this years’ event. Mutsumi is without a partner as her regular one, Meliza Brown, graduated last year. In an interview with FeverPitch, she said she would work hard to shine in the singles.

WON GOLD

“I won gold in the doubles but I can’t compete now because I don’t have a partner; other than that I will work hard to excel in the singles.”

Mutsumi admitted that her toughest competition was Musera, who also beat her at the nationals.

“I am targeting a top spot at the championships but I believe Musera poses a threat to my ambitions as I finished second behind her at the nationals,” she added.

She was, however, confident she could repeat what she did in the doubles last year and lift the singles trophy.

Nkatha and Madhieu have a daunting task as they try to fit into Mutsumi and Brown’s big shoes to bring home the girls’ doubles trophy.

Nkatha said pressure was on them to make sure the country retains the title but they would give it their best shot.

“We will play our hearts out to retain the title and make Kenya proud; nonetheless it will not be easy. We will have to work extra hard.”

Dahiya and Njuguna will be out to improve on Isaya Etale’s bronze medal finish in Lira last year. Andanda and Luvega have an uphill task to return the boys’ doubles gold won by Jamin Luvembe and John Lutaaya of Malezi.

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