Nigeria’s tennis heavyweights Quadri Barakat of Delta State, Christopher Bulus of Ogun State and David Ekpeyong of Bayelsa State have qualified for the quarter final of tennis event at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Nigerian finest, Barakat, did so in ground style defeating Ekpeyong Rebecca of Bayelsa 4-1, 4-0 to progress. She will next face Emmanuel Essien Bright of (IJA) Invited Junior Athlete who defeated Maxwell Timipre of Rivers State 4-2, 5-3.
Omotayo Blessing of Edo State also progressed after dispatching Adeusi Jesutoyosi of Ekiti State 4-0, 4-1. She will next test the might of Udofa Mary of Akwa Ibom State who knocked out Favour Moses of Kaduna State.
Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti State knocked out Abosede Bamidele of Lagos State 4-1 retired to progress to the quarter final where she will meet Aina Goodnews of IJA, Invited Junior Athlete.
Etoro Bassey of Akwa Ibom will do battle with Yakubu Ohunene of Ogun State in the last quarter final match.
Etoro Bassey qualified after beating Godwin Favour of Nasarawa 4-0, 4-0 while Yakubu Ohunene made the cut after defeating Anuna Blessing of FCT 4-1, 4-2.
In the men’s events, Christopher Bulus of Ogun State was in fine form, beating Timibra Godgifts of Rivers State 4-1, 4-2 to set up quarter final against Michael Chima of Edo State. Michael Chima qualified after defeating Iloputa Ikechukwu of Delta State 5-3, 5-4(5).
Former number 1, Uche Oparaoji of Bayelsa State made his way to the quarter final after defeating Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba State, wining 4-1, 4-2 and he will next play rising star Daniel Adeleye of Ekiti State. Adeleye had earlier defeated Ibrahim Suleiman of Kaduna State 4-1, 4-1.
Nigeria no1 David Ekpeyong of Bayelsa State was too hot for Rubi Toba of Taraba State, winning 4-0, 4-2 to qualify.
Ekpeyong will next play Danjuma Lucky of FCT who knocked out Abamu Mathew of Ekiti State.
Abua Canice of Rivers State also qualified to set up a quarter final match against Abubakar Yusuf of FCT.
Canice achieved the feat after knocking out Azi David of Delta State 4-1, 4-0 while Abubakar Yusuf booked a ticket following his victory over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo State 4-0, 4-2.
The quarter-final match will take place at the Tennis Center of the newly renovated MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta, Ogun State.