Hashim Strikes

By OSCAR PILIPILI

 

Hashim Nintunga beat Sheil Kotecha 7-5, 6-1 in boys’ tennis Under-16 round match to qualify for the quarterfinals of Smashers Challenge Cup at Karen Country Club Saturday.

The event is used by many payers as a build-up ahead of the East Africa Junior Safari Open competition, which starts at Sadili Oval Sports Centre on Friday.

Kotecha displayed resilient performance in the first set, stretching Nintunga to the limit, but ran out of power as the match progressed.

Kotecha, 11, said he was using the Smashers Challenge tournament to prepare himself for higher age group competitions. “I’m satisfied with my performance because the match was more of training to me,” said the multi-talented player who is also a star swimmer.

Ishak Abdul easily cruised past David Nesbitt 6-0, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal date with Nintunga.  Top seed Robert Kasombo, Khalid Abdallah, the third ranked player, fourth seed Amom Nzuki and Zuberi Moussa all got byes to the quarter-finals in the Under-16 category. Kotecha and Nesbitt clash in consolation quarterfinals.

Aaliyah Bashir beat Matseka Githinji 6-1, 6-2 in a girls’ Under-16 third round match to reach the semis while Byron Omondi beat Max Sylvester on countback of 6-3, 5-6 (10-6) in a thrilling boys’ Under-12 match to secure his ticket to the semi finals.

In girls’ under-12 category, Sneha Kotecha stopped Anna Stenning 6-0 in a one-setter encounter to qualify for penultimate round. Top seed Tottie Ball and Izzy Stichbury were given byes to the semi-finals of the tournament that ends today.

With the East Africa Junior Safari Open competition starting on Friday, most players taking part in the Smashers tournament are seeking to polish their skills being part of the 74, who enrolled for the Safari Junior Camp at Sadili last Monday.

Sadili Director Liz Odera said the purpose of the tournaments is to offer players opportunity to put into practise what they learned in the Camp.

“The players are enthusiastic after going through high performance training camp for the last five days,” Odera said.

“Each one of them is eager to win and show coaches that they have gained new tennis skills.”

The Safari Junior Camp, managed by Sadili Oval Sports Academy since its inception locally over a decade ago, remains the most prestigious event in the tennis calendar in East Africa region. It is attracting huge interest from junior players between six and 18 years, from USA, Africa and Europe.