More than 300 players will vie for the N14.3million at stake at the 38thCentral Bank of Nigeria Open Tennis Championship scheduled to hold between June 16 and June 25 at the National Stadium, Lagos.
President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Sani Ndanusa, stated at a press conference heralding the tournament in Lagos yesterday that the tournament will see players battling in four categories namely men’s’ singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women doubles. It will also feature wheelchair tennis which has been running since 2013.
Ndanusa who was represented by NTF’s Vice President, Mr. Yemi Owoseni expressed gratitude to the CBN for sustaining interest in the championship which he pointed is the biggest domestic programme in the calendar of the NTF.
“At a time when some are struggling to hold on to their sponsorship, the CBN has stayed with the NTF and we are very grateful for having us in their plans,” he said.
Earlier, CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, pointed out that the tournament has continually produced gifted players that have won laurels for Nigeria at several local and international tournaments.
Okorafor, who was represented by Sindiki Thaanda, reaffirmed the Bank’s desire to support and promote tennis in Nigeria as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Men and Women Singles winners will get N750, 000 while the runners up will pocket N500, 000. The champions in the wheel chair event will also get N200, 000.
Thomas Otu and Melissa Ifidzhen won the men and women singles titles in 2015 beating Moses Michael and Christy Agugbom while Alex Adewale defeated Jelili Ishola just as Folake Basanya edged Foluke Shittu to clinch the top prizes in the wheelchair category.
