By REBECCA GICHANA
The annual Parklands Open Junior Tennis Championship that was held in the final week of August at the Parklands Sports club Nairobi saw many upcoming talents participate. It was, however, mixed blessings for participants, winning some and losing some.
Top players from Mombasa and Kisumu also participated in the popular annual event, which saw Nairobi-based players dominate in most of the events.
In the under-12 girls double, Angela Nyangweso and Prudence Theuri took the day. Theuri who was ranked second in the Junior Championship Ranking Tournament in the Under-10 category found herself dropping to third seed after the tournament.
"The games were tough but am happy I won the doubles with Angela despite losing the singles. Am also happy for the support my parents give me each time, especially my dad who encourages me to play more ranking tournaments in order for me to gain points," said Theuri.
Theuri would like to play professional tennis like the William sisters, Serena and Venus.
The tenth seeded Angela Nyangweso also lost her singles but got a reprieve when she won the doubles. The seven-year-old was determined to win all her games to improve her ranking but all did not go well for her in the tournament.
"The tournament was not easy, I wanted to improve in my ranking but I will work harder in the coming tournaments for me to be the best," she said.
Angela who gets her inspiration from her elder brother, who also plays tennis, is determined to continue practicing with her brother to keep up her game.
However, the tournament was a near Nairobi-only affair, with Nairobi-based players dominating the under 12, 10 and 8 categories respectively.
The winners took home trophies and medals while all participants gor certificates.
The tournament, which is the biggest in the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association junior tournament calendar, was sponsored by Deep Heat. The Harley’s Ltd (Deep Heat) gave out Sh150,000, the largest financial donation towards a junior tennis tournament this year.