Over 150 at tennis date

By Erick Ochieng’

Over 150 players from 18 schools braved the overcast weather to feature at the Schools Tennis Championship at Parkland Sports Club in Nairobi Saturday.

Leading broadcaster, KTN and CodeRED Dj’s relayed the event live and entertained budding players with their ‘Vibe City’ show.

James Kamweru of Kiambu High, who had a bye in the first round, increased his chances of winning the boys’ Under-18 title by ousting Mathew Mghendi of Mwakitawa High of Taita Taveta 4-3 in the second round to reach the quarter-finals.

But Mghendi’s teammate, Michael Mbinga defied odds to overcome Eastleigh High’s Joseph Njuguna whom he floored 4-1.

Kamweru’s schoolmate, James Gatiba, did not live to see light at the end of the tunnel as he was ruthlessly bundled out with a 4-0 victory by Akshay Vagani of Mombasa’s Visha Oshwal Academy.

Vagani’s compatriot, Vishal Shikotra, followed the cue and dealt with his rival, Gerald Mutiso of Kanunga High School, whom he stopped with a 4-3 win.

But hard fighting Vishal Savadia was not lucky as he failed to carry Oshwal’s mantle when he lost 4-2 to Reinhard Odero of Eastleigh in the category’s preliminaries.

Odero’s schoolmate, Davis Kaloki, failed to live up to expectation as he was walloped 4-0 by Grimble Anthony of Kiambu.

In girl’s Under-18 category, Stella Ng’ang’a of Mwakitau High School easily sailed to the third round when she got a walkover after Loreto Convent’s Omar Naisar failed to turn up.

Ng’ang’a had towered with a 4-0 lead over Joy Murugi of St.Francis in the first round.

Other results of the category include: Aimie Muthoni (St.Francis) 4 Barbariza (Msongari) 2, Shirley Owenga (Alliance Girls) 4 Aisha Njoki (St.Francis) 1,Laura Mwanyindo (Mwakitau) 4 Angela Wanjiku (St.Francis) 0.

Elinor Kaguogo (Kianda), Santana Oburu (Makini) and Muskan Vasist won 4-1,4-1 and 4-0 in the girl’s Under-14 preliminaries.

In the girl’s Under-11, Gathoni Stephanie (Makini), Judy Nkatha (Zion) and Joanes Kinyanjui (Loreto) triumphed over rivals Natasha Okwara (Kianda), Anjani Patel (Imani) and Hawi Nyera (Kianda) with 4-0 victories each in the first rounds.

Imani school’s Siddhant Dubey soared high over Kioko Muthusi of Makini school whom he defeated 4-0 in the boy’s 11.

The event was organized by Sports Concept and was aimed at promoting tennis in both primary and high schools in Kenya and also increased participation, promotion and standards of the game in the country.

" Apart from the game the event aimed at building discipline, teamwork and sports culture among players." said Wanjiru Mbugua, the event organizer.