Impressive tennis at Sadili 8-Series Junior Tennis Challenge No. 6

Fifty-nine junior tennis players converged at Sadili Oval Sports Academy on Saturday 3^rd September 2016 for the Sadili 8-Series Junior Tennis Challenge no. 6 for U6, U8, U10 and U12. Despite the cold weather in Nairobi, high quality tennis was seen in all the matches.  

This was a free-entry tournament, open for everyone, with a majority of the participants drawn from Sadili’s Court of Dreams project. There were a total of 8 events and 12 draws played in all the 7 tennis courts at Sadili Oval. 

The tournament, run under a Sadili/International Inspiration partnership, was sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods, Sadili Oval and Comic Relief among others.

This time Sadili staff were lucky to have experienced volunteer coaches from the USA, Kent Smith and Christine Smith joining them as referees. The volunteer coaches have been spending their afternoons at the Kibera Tennis Court teaching tennis to kids.

RESULTS OF THE TOURNAMENT-03/09/2016

In the under 6 boys’ category, seed Fred Ramsey carried the day after beating Eugene Michael in the finals, with Naomi Wanjiku trouncing Lorraine Adongo to win the under 6 girls’ singles.

Talented Angela Alwanga for the third time in a row proved to be the strongest in the under 8 girls’ category beating Michelle Atieno in the finals, while Stephen Kigunzi beat Brian Odhiambo to claim victory in the boys’ under 8 category.

In the under 10 boys’ category, Patel Ambecha emerged winner after beating Samuel Otieno in the finals, while Emi Imani dominated the under 10 girls’ category defeating Dorothy Achieng in the finals.

Edwin Ochieng lifted the under 12 boys’ category after a tough battle with rival seed Edward Odogo in the finals, while Fanice Asengo Thrashed Terryann Njeri in the Girl’s Under 12.

To view the detailed final results please click on the link below: http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/winners.aspx?id=CEC6F1BB-C0B2-4F60-A25D-B3A2C1C087FC

The day was then topped off with lunch for all the kids and some refreshing beverages. 

Tournament organisers who are also Sadili staff were happy with the successful weekend and are now looking forward to the next tournament: Sadili 8-Series Junior Tennis Challenge No. 7 in early October. 

The Sadili 8- Series Junior Tennis Challenge is a tournament for U6, U8, U10 & U12 kids (all levels), with Tennis Africa Cup ranking. It is intended to encourage beginner-intermediate juniors to play competitions.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped to make this day a success, and especially to our volunteer coaches who came all the way from the United States to train tennis to kids and support our activities.

Smashers Challenge Cup Displays Excellent Sportsmanship

Wycliffe Okenye

The Smashers Challenge Cup (4th edition), presented by gold sponsor, RentWorks, ended on a high note on Sunday 14^th August 2016 at Karen Country Club with 31 junior players braving the cold to showcase their talents in the game. The juniors came from all over Nairobi, Kisumu and Arusha. One of the highlights of the tournament was the match between Wycliffe Okenye and Ricky Omondi in the boys under 18/21 finals.The two gave a magnificent display of tennis in a match that kept spectators glued to their seats. It ended by Wycliffe thrashing Ricky 6/4, 6/2.

Kigamwa(right) receives a trophy from Ms.Moraa of RentWorks

Indefatigable player Changi Kigamwa of Karen Country Club battled his way to the semi finals but was stunned by Ricky Omondi 1/6, 2/6. Despite Kigamwa's loss to his opponent, Karen Country Club had a reason to celebrate as this was the first time since 2010 that a seed from the club had reached semi-finals in the under 18/21 category.

Shana Mao

In the girls under 12 category, Angela fought her way to the finals where she finally lost to  Nasombi Khangati 4/1. In the girls  U14/U16, talented Shana Mao had an easy win against her opponents and went her ahead to beat runner-up Julia Khangati 6/1 in the finals. In the boys under 12, Edward Odogo played well but finally lost to Moses Otieno in the finals. In the boys under 14 finals, Evans Aminga thrashed Evans Otieno 4/2. In the boys under 16, runner-up John Onyango put up a good fight throughout the match but finally lost (narrowly) to Charles Ochieng 6/7.

The final results were as follows:

Girls

12 & Under

Winner: Nasombi Khangati

R/Up: Angela Aluanga

3^rd: Scovia Nafula

4^th Nduta Kariuki

14/16

Winner: Shana Mao

R/Up: Julia Khangati

3^rd: Shamiso Pemiwa

4^th: Shiku Njuguna

Boys

12 &Under

Winner: Moses Otieno

R/Up: Edward Odogo

3^rd: Ibrahim Oburu

4^th: Henry Ochieng

14 & Under

Winner: Evans Aminga

R/Up: Evans Otieno

3^rd: Jerome Kitonga

16 & Under

Winner: Charles Ochieng

R/Up: John Onyango

3^rd: Chris Kagunda

4^th: Jerome Kitonga

Boys U18/U21

Winner: Wycliffe Okenye

R/Up: Ricky Omondi

3^rd: Billy Jagero

4^th: Changi Kigamwa.

The Smashers Challenge series forms part of a Level B Tennis Africa Cup ranking tournaments, for players between intermediate to advanced level. Winners from the Masters qualify for the World Finals of the Champions Bowl (http://www.champ-bowl.com), a worldwide tournament circuit, to be held in Spain later this year. This particular edition was sponsored by RentWorks and Wilson Sporting Goods. RentWorks is a lease company that provides rental finance solutions to a global customer base comprising large and medium size organizations.

First Smashers Challenge Takes Off To A Great Start

The first Smashers Challenge Tournament of 2016 took place at its traditional home, Sadili Oval in Langata, Nairobi, with 18 juniors braving the cold and wet conditions to have what was a good beginning of the year’s tennis of the Tennis Africa Cup. Little Emmi Imani proved her talent by breaking through to the semi-finals in the mixed 12's, before losing to top ranked boy, Eddy Ochieng. Evans Otieno dominated the U16, beating all opposition to step onto the winners spot on the podium. Newcomer Alfred Bokea took second place after Ibrahim Mohammed failed to play his match against Alfonse Oduor, thereby losing critical points.

In the 12s: Eddy Ochieng, Emi Imani, Michel Otieno and Andrew Bokea emerged from the group stages to compete in the semi-finals, with Andrew Bokea routing Michael Otieno 4/0/4/0, before dominating over Ochieng 5/3, 4/2 to bag the winner’s points.

The Under 14s was a round robin with close run between Jeremy Kimani and Chevita Okenye, which Okenye eventually won in points.

The Smashers Challenge is a Level B tournament for top juniors in the Tennis Africa Cup (http://www.tennisafrica.net/) ranking and recognized by the Nairobi County Tennis Association. The Smashers Challenge Series, started by Tennis professional, Dr. Liz Odera over 17 years ago to build talent, has helped hone the skills of many juniors, who now live and play in about 14 countries around the world. This year, the tournament series also forms part of the qualification events towards the National Masters, which will take place during the Smashers Challenge up on the 6^th – 7^th August 2016, at the Karen Country Club. Winners who from the Masters will qualify for the World Finals of The CHAMPIONS BOWL (http://www.champ-bowl.com), a worldwide tournament circuit, to be held in Turkey later this year. 

RESULTS

U12
POOL A					SEMIS	FINALS
	1	2	3	4
EMI IMANI		1/4, 1/4	4/2, 5/3	4/2, 1/4, 7/3	E. OCHIENG
ANDREW BOKEA	4/1, 4/1		4/2, 5/3	4/1, 4/0		E. OCHIENG
VICTOR OTIENO	2/4, 3/5	2/4, 3/5		2/4, 1/4		4/1, 4,0
HENRY OTIENO	2/4, 4/1, 3/7	1/4, 0/4	4/2, 4/1		E. IMANI
							A. BOKEA
POOL B					M. OTIENO		5/3, 4/2
	1	2	3	4
AUSTINE KATIECH		4/1, 4/2	0/4, 0/4	4/0, 4/0		A. BOKEA
EDDY OCHIENG	1/4, 2/4		W/O	4/0, 4/0	A. BOKEA	4/0, 4/0
MICHEAL OTIENO	4/0, 4/0	W/O		4/0, 4/0
PETER KILONZI	0/4, 0/4	0/4, 0/4	0/4, 0/4

U14						POSITION
	1	2	3	4	5
JOSEPH BOKEA		1/4, 3/5	1/4, 2/4	**	2/4, 3/5	4
EVANS AMINGA	4/1, 5/3		4/0, 2/4, 5/7	**	4/1, 4/0	3
CHEVITA OKENYE	4/1, 4/2	0/4, 4/2, 7/5		**	1/4, 4/1, 7/4	1
JEREMY KIMANI	**	**	**		**	**
EDWARD ODONGO	4/2, 5/3	4/1, 4/0	4/1, 1/4, 4/7	**		2

U16
	1	2	3	4	5	Rank
ALFRED BOKEA		4/1, 4/1	4/2, 4/2	3/5, 2/4	1/4, 3/5	2
ALFONSE ODUOR	1/4, 1/4		0/4,2/4	NOT PLAYED	1/4, 2/4	5
GEORGE KEYA	2/4, 2/4	4/0, 4/2		1/4, 2/4	0/4, 0/4	4
IBRAHIM MOHAMMED	5/3, 4/2	NOT PLAYED	4/1, 4/2		2/4, 3/5	3
EVANS OTIENO	4/1, 5/3	4/1, 4/2	4/0, 4/0	4/2, 5/3		1