Kenya open begins

By Oscar Pilipili and Erick Ochieng’

The eagerly awaited Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Kenya Open Championship kicks off today.Interest in both men and women’s games is expected to be high. Title sponsors, KCB, have floated Sh750,000 prize money out of their Sh1 million sponsorship package.

The tournament is scheduled to start at its traditional venue, Nairobi Club Murram courts, and will be a display of youth and experience. Champions Allan Cooper and Caroline Oduor are out to use their vast experience to retain the trophies they clinched last year.

Cooper’s victory was significant for Kenya as it checked the dominance of foreigners, especially Zimbabweans, in the lucrative tournament.

Zimbabweans who have won the event before include Tongoona Gwinyai and Martin Dzuwa. It is still unclear whether they will participate at this year’s event whose entry closes today at 10am. Copper, who has played in major tournaments like Euro/Africa David Cup, surprisingly clinched the title after coming out of a 10-year retirement.

Other experienced players who have committed to play in the tournament include Kenyan Francis Rogoi and Rwandese Jean Claude Gasigwa.

High-riding juniors

The seniors should tread careful to avoid upsets from high-riding juniors like Uganda Open winner Duncan Mugabe and Kenya’s new kid on the block Dennis Ochieng’.

Ochieng’ warmed up for the Kenya Open with a runner-up placing after he lost 3-6, 3-6 to homeboy Mugabe in the Uganda Open final in Kampala yesterday. The 17-year-old recorded impressive results on his way to the Uganda Open final, including in the semi-finals where he eliminated experienced Gasigwa.

He went to the Uganda Open two weeks after he finished second in the Kenya International Junior Championships.

At his peak

The Kenya Open referee Patrick Kamuhia agreed Ochieng’ could be at his peak.

"For him to reach the final of Uganda Open, he must be playing well. We hope he will continue with the same form when he comes to Nairobi Club," Kamuhia said at Nairobi Club. Other teenagers expected to star at Nairobi Club are Gilbert Kibet, Yash Rawal, Ivy and Ian Rahedi and Joie Keter.

Ochieng’, Kibet and Rawal are Kenya’s torchbearers in the next generation of players. Kibet and Rawal have graduated from the junior category, while Ochieng’ is playing his final year in the age group.

Fans will, however, miss great junior player Nikita Dawda who is nursing a knee injury. Kamuhia said the tournament would start with the qualification round. He said: "We shall accept 24 direct entries who will be joined by eight players from the qualification round."

The opening ceremony is programmed for 10am.

Meanwhile, Aahil Saleh and Thakkar Dilan sailed to the boy’s under-10 final at the ongoing Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Kenya Open Junior Tennis tournament at Nairobi Club.

Saleh beat Rushab Shah 6-4,6-2 to qualify while Dilan won 6-1,6-2 against Kean Shah. Thakkar and Dilan will meet in the finals on March 7 at the same venue. In the boys’ under-12 category, Isaiah Etale got a walk-over in the second round and went a head to defeat Peter Ngatia 6-3,6-1 to reach semi-finals. He faces Reuben Njuguna, who beat Rooney Wandati 7-5,6-3, for a final slot.

Sheila Kotecha also reached the semi-finals after getting a walk-over against Jesse Kirabira and so did Daniel Miheso in the boys’ under-14 after Brian Omwando failed to show up.

Sheila Kotecha got a walk-over against Camilla Kusienya in the girls’ under-10 and faces Bianca Oyoo in the semis, while Rosemary Wambui and Sorphia Yussuf meet in the girls’ under-10 final.

Adetunji sisters, Tayo and Rotimi, sailed to the semis of the girls under-12 and 14 categories. In other results, Lobo Ariane beat Gloria Chelangat 4-6,6-4 and 10-5 in the girls’ under-16 preliminaries as Damaris Musera hit Granier Lara 6-1,6-0. Stephen Depasqual also beat Boniface Abasha 6-0,6-2 in the boys’ under-16 quarter-finals.

Kenya Lawn Tennis Association have expressed fear that rains may interfere with the senior event at the venue today.