Kagoma and Luvembe reach quarters at junior championships

By Oscar Pilipili

Top seed Amadi Kagoma and Jamine Luvembe advanced to the quarter-finals of Real Insurance junior tennis championships without hitting the ball at Nairobi Club.

Luvembe and Kagoma got byes to the next round where they will now face Euna Nesbitt and third seed Allan Atola in the boys’ singles Under-18 last eight. Nesbitte beat Peter Ndung’u with straight sets of 6-0, 6-0 while Atola eliminated Boniface Ambala 6-1, 6-3 in their first round matches.

The girls’ category which has attracted four players saw Gloria Rotich win her first two matches beating Lornah Bwejje 6-2, 6-2 and Khadija Ali 6-1, 6-2 to emerge a hot favourite for the title.

The girls’ Under-16 category is divided into two groups of three players each.

Group ‘A’ has Stephanie Mbaya, Achu Madhieu and Chizi Mitsumi while Sofiya Gulam, Memba Waitherero and Melissa Brown form Pool ‘B’.

Mudhieu won her first match after she defeated Mutsumi 7-6(6), 0-6, 6-1 to start as the front-runner in the category.

Unseeded Shabani Kabura caused an upset in the boys’ Under-16 when he ousted second seed Sheil Kotecha 6-2, 6-1 in a first round match and qualify for the semi-finals.

Henry Ayesiga advanced to the semis following 6-4, 6-0 victory over Randal Randiek in the other Under-16 tie.

Third seed Kevin Mwangi lived up to his billing after he contained beat Patrick Ochieng 7-5, 7-5 in a tight encounter to reach the semi-finals.

Seeded players advanced in the girls’ singles under-14 with seed one Sneha Kotecha, Judy Nkatha (four), Mercy Mjide (three) and Tonia Kubai (two) making it to the semi-finals.

Kotecha beat Marie Owino 6-3, 6-1, Nkatha breezed past Jaini Shah 6-2, 6-2, Mjide recorded a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Mercy Wangui while Kubai had little difficulty in overcoming Sharon Cosmos 6-0, 6-0 in the quarter-finals to sail through to the semis.

The girls’ Under-12 category is the most competitive as four seeded players have been eliminated from the contest.

Top seed Serish Thakker could not go past second round after he lost 3-6, 1-6 to Esther Wahome.

Fourth seed Millicent Wanjiku quit the race when she lost 6-0, 6-0 against Hahimana Saada in second round.

Prudence Shauri reached the semi-finals without breaking a sweat after she was awarded a walk over against second seed Keya Shah.

Third seed Bianca Oyoo is the only seeded player in the under-12 category after she defeated Natalie Bianca 6-2, 6-4 in a quarter-final encounter to reach the semis.

Top seed Keena Shah maintained form in boys’ Under-12 after he beat Jairus Olwonga 6-3, 6-1 to reach the semis.

Second seed Ryan Randiek quit the race after he lost 4-6, 4-6 to Geoffrey Ogega in his match.