Ifedayo Akindoju, President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has unveiled no fewer than five local, and international events that would complete the federation’s 2021 last quarter calendar that would run from Oct. 28 to Dec.18.
Akindoju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja, on Wednesday, that the international events were meant to enable the federation discover players that could feature at international level, as well as to improve the world ranking of Nigerian players.
“The events will enable us to put Nigerian players’ names at the highest level of the ITF ranking.
” While the local events are to scout for more talents that will replace the aging ones and to increase the development of Tennis. Our various events will also help to put the players on their toes,” he said.
The tennis president listed the remaining events of the year to include: the Dala hard court National Open Championship in Kano, from Oct. 28 to Nov.6; the VEMP National Tennis Open Championship in Abuja, from Nov.4 to Nov.13.
There would also be the two-leg ITF World Tennis tour J5, two-week events from Nov.12 to Nov.30; while in december two events: the Rain Oil National Tennis Open, in Lagos from Dec 2 to Dec.11 and the Abuja Tennis Cup closed from Dec. 13 to Dec. 18 in Abuja, would round-off the federation’s 2021 calendar, Akindoju said.
“This is the first time that these events are happening and they’re going to be played for the top eight tennis players for both men and ladies categories in Abuja, that will be the last tournament for the year,” he added. (NAN)
