By Francis Ajuonuma
A total sum of N6.1m in prize money will be won at this year’s Rainoil Tennis Open which was served off yesterday at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.
Group Managing Director, Rainoil Limited, Gabriel Ogbechie, who disclosed this at a media briefing held yesterday in Lagos to herald the championship, said that titles will be competed for in both the male and female categories with the winner in the men’s singles receiving N600,000, while the winner in the women’s singles will go home with N500,000. Runners-up in the men’s and women’s singles will earn N300,000 and N250,000 respectively
Ogbechie, who was represented at the event by the company’s Group Head, Strategy and Business Development, Emmanuel Omuojine, assured that the company will not relent in its commitment towards the development of tennis in the country, noting that failure to stage the tournament last year was due to the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the world in 2020.
He also explained that the championship which ends on December 11 will feature 64 players in the men’s single, while the women’s singles title will be fought for by 32 players, just as the men and women’s doubles will feature 32 and 16 players respectively, assuring that all arrangements are in place by the club to guarantee hitch-free tournament which will feature top-seeded male and female players across the country.
‘’The tournament will feature 64 players in the men’s singles,32 players in the women’s singles, 32 in the men’s doubles and 16 players in the women’s doubles
‘’The open nature of the competition ensures that we partner with the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) who provided the player rankings. The Rainoil Tennis Open is an NTF sanctioned competition and participating players will also earn ranking points.
“Rainoil has been sponsoring tennis for close to a decade and this competition is our contribution to youth and sports development, using Tennis as a platform. The competition brings players together in a friendly atmosphere and gives them the opportunity to gain bragging rights and improve their ranking,” he stated.
Secretary Tennis Section of Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Mrs. Bolanle Fatona, who also spoke at the event on behalf of the club, commended Rainoil for providing Nigerian tennis players with the right platform to develop their game and be more competitive.
“I think this tournament is a welcome development. We always welcome Rainoil Tennis Open Tournament every year except for last year when there was covid. The tournament is a good development for our young upcoming tennis stars, and it builds them up. It encourages them to do more. So, I think is good, and Rainoil is doing very well at least and they have always been on the job.
“We’re expecting the best of the best tennis competition here because we have some of our boys here in Lagos Country Club because as you all know we have good facilities here for tennis and our boys are very up to date. So, I’m thinking positively that we’re going to see top-notch tennis and are going to be very good, great performances from both the female and the male. We appreciate Rainoil’s commitment to the development of tennis in the country,” she said.
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Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) referee, Arinola Isa-Banire, who represented the tennis federation expressed a profound appreciation to Rainoil Limited for choosing to sponsor the tournament
“We appreciate Rainoil for the opportunity given to our players to play on the clay surface. It provides them with the opportunity to know how to play on clay courts,” she said.
Some of Nigeria’s top tennis players listed to feature in the 10-day championship include Sylvester Emmanuel, Joseph Imeh, Barakat Oyinlomo and Mary love Edwards
“We appreciate Rainoil for the opportunity given to our players to play on the clay surface. It provides them with the opportunity to know how to play on clay courts,” she said.
Some of Nigeria’s top tennis players listed to feature in the 10-day championship include Sylvester Emmanuel, Joseph Imeh, Barakat Oyinlomo, and Marylove Edwards
