Tennis Championships: Kenyans shine in Tanzania

By  ERNEST NDUNDA           

 Kenya’s top seeded Kevin Cheruiyot was among the many locals who advanced to the semi-finals of the ITF/Cat East African Junior Tennis Championships in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The tournament, which started on Monday, entered into the semi-final stage yesterday, with the finals set for today.

Cheruiyot (pictured) stopped Tanzania’s Ibrahim Sadiki 6-0, 6-3 on his way to the semis.

The Kenyan was also due to face third-seeded Nicodemo Mallya of Tanzania who had beaten Burundi’s Said Nkurunzi 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-final of the boys’ Under-16.

In other quarter-final results of the boys’ Under-16, Tumaini Meshuko, who is the tournament’s second seed, made it to the semi-finals after beating Shabani Kabura of Burundi 6-4, 6-0, while fourth seed Ernest Habiyami of Rwanda edged out Tanzania’s Frank Menard 6-3, 6-2 to sail to the semi-final.

semi-final clash

Other Kenyans in the semi-finals are Egessa Venessa in the girls’ Under-12. She was to play Kitambala Huzianne of Burundi.

In the girls’ Under-14 category, Esther Wahome made it to the semis where she was to face Burundi’s Aisha Niyonkururu.

In the boys’ Under-12 category, Shah Keean of Kenya was to play Ibrahim Hakizimana of Burundi in a semi-final match. Kenya’s Ryan Randiek was to play Burundi’s Karim Ubumwe in another semi-final clash.

In the girls’ Under-12 doubles, Kenya’s pair of Venessa Egessa and Angela Nyangweso won their two matches after beating Saka Kassm (Ethiopia) and Therese Souku of Seychelles 7-6 (6), 6-3. The Kenyans went ahead to beat Esther Nankulanga of Tanznaia and Kitambala Hozane of Burundi 6-1, 6-4. —[e-mail]