Rivers State players claimed three of the four titles as the ninth Prince Victor Uwakwe Tennis Championship ended in Enugu, with Favour Emeka, Daniel Udimwbong and Joshua Maxwell among the winners.
The four-day tournament, organised by the Enugu State Tennis Association in collaboration with the Enugu Sports Club Tennis Section, concluded on Saturday with finals in the Under-15 and Under-21 boys’ and girls’ categories.
Emeka defeated Nwosu Ngozi of Imo State 6-1, 6-4 to win the Under-15 girls’ title.
In the Under-15 boys’ final, Rivers State’s Daniel Udimwbong overcame Taiye Omoniyi, also of Rivers State, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 after three sets.
Precious Ohimal of Edo State won the Under-21 girls’ category after beating fellow Edo player Aigbangbe Esther 7-6, 6-2.
Joshua Maxwell completed Rivers State’s strong showing by defeating Chimaobi Onuegbu of Imo State 6-1, 6-3 to claim the Under-21 boys’ title.
The tournament brought together about 100 young players and coaches from different parts of Nigeria, although some expected teams from the South-West were unable to attend.
Sponsor Prince Victor Uwakwe said the tournament had continued to expand since it began nine years ago.
“It has been a wonderful nine past years and this year brought in more players, more coaches and it was actually more elaborate,” he said.
“We are improving every year and the players are getting excited and ready for the event and we are happy that there’s so much attention to the tournament.”
Uwakwe said the increase in participation also meant organisers had to manage rising costs while ensuring players remained involved.
“Since last year, there were maybe 50, this year it’s now 100. So we have to manage those people and ensure that they are still involved in it,” he said.
He also said he wanted Enugu players to become more competitive ahead of next year’s tournament, with plans to bring in more coaches and encourage greater commitment from players.
“We have put in plans to ensure that they become more competitive by next year. We now want to engage more coaches for them and encourage players to be more serious,” Uwakwe said.
Uwakwe described the competitive level of this year’s tournament as about 70%, partly because teams from the West did not attend.
“The West didn’t come. So the competition wasn’t as fierce and as strong as it should be,” he said.
“The idea is to get other people to come and compete with you and see how you can perform. So we need the West and the North to come and challenge our players.”
He said more regular competitions were needed to give young tennis players the opportunity to assess their progress and gain experience.
“This tournament is actually a forum that would get players to know where they are. And of course, if this happens more regularly, if there are more tournaments like this, the players will be brushed and ready for more tournaments,” he said.
Uwakwe also stressed the importance of combining education and sport in the development of young people.
“You need to have a balanced life, have your sporting life, your academic life in place. So these two sides go together. And every society needs that balance to do well,” he said.
The sponsor said preparations for the 10th edition had already begun, with a committee established to work on next year’s tournament.
“We are trying to get better every year. So next year will be much better than it was this year,” he said.
The championship has become an annual platform for young players to gain competitive experience and for organisers to identify emerging tennis talent in Nigeria.
