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Nasarawa Governor promises to invest in Tennis

Nasarawa Governor promises to invest in Tennis

By Femi Atolagbe
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Winners have emerged from the first edition of Governor Abdullahi Audu Sule Lafia Tennis Open Championship.

The event, which was attended by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Audu Sule, and other high profile personalities in the state,including the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Othman Bala Adam, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Aliyu Abdullahi Agwai, Mr Haruna Kasimu Idris(SSA Youth and Sports to the Governor), Mr Abubakar Sandaji, among others, began on 26th February, and ended on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the Project Quarters Tennis Court, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

In the final of the Men’s Singles, Sani Yau defeated Paul Benjamin in two straight sets 7-6, 6-4 to emerge champion, with Usman Abubakar emerging 3rd.

In the Female Singles final played earlier, Loveth Ogah beat Stella Onwukwe 4-0, 4-0 to emerge winner, while Mbechum Beatrice Taro came 3rd.

In the Mixed Doubles, the duo of Usman Abubakar/Loveth Ogah defeated Paul Benjamin/Mbechum Beatrice Taro 4-0, 4-1 to clinch the first position,with Mohammed/Dorcas coming 3rd.

In his opening remark, a veteran member of the Lafia Tennis Federation, Mr Abubakar Sandaji, thanked the Governor for sponsoring the championship and requested for his assistance to enable the Federation expand its existing courts to accommodate the large number of their members.

“We are grateful that the Governor as a bonafide member of the Lafia Tennis Federation sponsored this maiden Open Championship and we hope this continues.

“We are, therefore, requesting from the Governor that due to the influx of new members into the Federation, from 40 to over 150, training on only two courts which you and I know won’t be enough to accommodate all those people, he should assist us in constructing a new court and probably extend the other one”, he appealed.

Responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed delight for the successful hosting and completion of the tournament, assuring of his unalloyed determination to support the game of Tennis in the state in order to take it to an enviable height.

“I can see some future U.S, Australian, as well as the French Open champions here, and from all indications,  by the grace God , you will be there.

“Tennis is a game I love, though I do play soccer and volleyball, but there is no game I love more than Tennis. And that is the reason I was playing it in those days and am still playing it in these days.

“Very soon, we are going to have another Open Championship but for the elderly and that will be played here on these courts.

“As long as I am Governor, I will do all I can to change the face of Tennis in Nasarawa State”, he promised.

The Governor went on to make personal donations to the various winners of the Open Championship as well as to the Lafia Tennis Federation.

“In order to encourage the champions that emerged in this maiden Open Championship, I am going to give token gifts to each one of them. These, I hope, will spur them to put more efforts to get to the zenith of their professional career.

“As for your request, I truly believe it is fair due to the number of membership you are getting now. In view of that I will give a personal donation of Three Million Naira(N3,000,000.00) to enable you renovate the old one and construct a new to make it three Courts”, he concluded.

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Nasarawa Governor promises to invest in Tennis

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