Ikoyi Club 1938 hosts Ghana/Nigeria tennis tourney

THE tennis section of Ikoyi Club 1938 will be agog with competition from today as the annual Ghana/Nigeria international championship serves off. With the arrival of the 60-man contingent from the Accra Lawn Tennis Club yesterday, the stage is now set for the two-day encounter where players will compete in nine events.

Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938 Tennis Section, Chike Orjiakor, said that being the 10th edition, the tournament promised to be exciting with lots of entertaining events in place to give the visitors moments to remember for years.

"We want to use this year's edition, being the 10th anniversary of the championship, to celebrate the event which was initiated by Nigeria's former High Commissioner to Ghana, Sam Okechukwu, who felt this kind of forum will engender closer ties between the two nations," he said. "I could say that at present, the event remains the most consistent sporting event between the two nations."

He added that aside from the tournament, visitors would be treated to an exciting boat cruising moment on the Lagos Lagoon today, while the event would commence today and end tomorrow. The climax of the glamorous event will be a gala night holding at the club tomorrow.

Events to be competed for are men's singles, doubles and mixed doubles, while the ladies will compete in the singles and doubles. Veterans will jostle for honours in the singles and doubles, while the super veterans for players above 60 will also compete in singles and doubles.

Orjiakor, however, said that being the 10th anniversary, the winner of this year's event would have to keep the grand trophy donated by the initiator. Players expected to do Nigeria proud at the event include Bimbo Okubena, Walter Eze and Godwin Kienka, while the ladies' campaign will be spearheaded by Julie Shawon, who is also the ladies' captain of the tennis section.