Kenyans Ismael Changawa and Fazal Khan will clash with Ugandans Duncan Mugabe and David Oringa in the finals of the men’s doubles of the ongoing Real Insurance Kenya Open tennis championships at the Nairobi Club.
Seeded third in this category, Changawa and Khan dismissed tops seeds Jean Claude Gasigwa of Rwanda and Edgar Kazembe of Zambia 7-5, 7-6 (5) to book a date with second ranked Ugandans. Mugabe and Oringa beat fourth seeds Olivier Havugumana and Matthieu Uwezeyimana of Rwanda 6-1, 6-1.
Changawa, who will be taking on Mugabe for the first time told FeverPitch that he was aware of the tough task ahead and will give Mugabe and his partner a run for their money.
“I have a lot of respect for Mugabe and Oringa because they are very good players, but I will not let that spoil my title ambitions,” he said.
Changawa added that Mugabe and Oringa make a very tough pair but he and Khan were equally a formidable combination that will give the Ugandans rough time.
“They are not easy to beat judging from my tie against Oringa in the singles, we can easily beat them,” he added.
Stretched dominance
Changawa saw off Oringa 6-1, 6-1 in the quarters of the men’s singles.
The Kenyan girls continued with their dominance as they once again made sure that they were the only ones standing in the finals of the women’s doubles.
Their winning strategy worked for the hosts as senior players joined hands with juniors.
Caroline Oduor partnered Stephanie Mbaya while Evelyn Otula teamed up with Shufaa Changawa.
Oduor and Mbaya claimed their finals spot following their 6-0, 6-4 victory over Veronica Osogo of Kenya and Tanzanian Rehema Athuman.
Top seeds Otula and Changawa saw off Burundians Santiana Irankunda and Sakina Nshimirimana 6-3 7-5 to seal an all Kenyan final.
bundled out
In the women’s wheelchair category Jane Ndenga beat another Kenyan 6-0 6-2 to book a semis spot where she will meet the winner of the Nelly Mungai and Tanzanian Lucy Julius tie.
Rahel Akoth bundled out another Kenya Phoebe Masika 6-1, 6-2, she will take on the winner of the Rehema Selemani of Tanzania and Kenyan Bethseda Chibole.
Top seed in the men’s singles wheelchair Novatus Temba of Tanzania will lock horns with Kenyan Rajabu Abdala in the semis. Temba beat Kenya Peter Munuve 6-2, 6-4 while Abdala seeded third walloped another Kenyan Shaban Warioba 6-4, 6-0.
The finals of the doubles will be played today. Other matches on card are the semi-finals of the singles. Kenyan ladies will be on court to outclass each other with junior players Shufaa and Mbaya fighting for a date with either of the seniors former champion Otula and reigning champion Oduor.
Men’s singles defending champion Mugabe will clash with Rwandan Gasigwa in the first semi-final encounter, while Changawa will be out to floor Zambian Edgar Kazembe. —emburugu@standardmedia.co.ke
