Former champion of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis tournament, Abdulmumuni Babalola of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) bounced back to reckoning at the weekend when he won his sixth title by defeating Joseph Imeh 2-0 (6-4, 6-3).
He emerged the men’s single champion of the 39th edition of CBN Senior tennis Tournament held at the national Stadium Surulere Lagos and smiled home with the N700,000 star prize money plus a giant trophy.
Babalola also paired old war-horse, Shehu Lawal, to win the men’s double title with victory over Imeh and Mohammad Mohammad. The won 7-5, 7-5 in the final.
The women’s single title went to Sarah Adegoke who outclassed Marylove Edwards in another two straight set that ended 6-0, 6-3. Tournament’s top seed, Christy Agugbom, combined effectively with No 2 seeded player, Blessing Samuel, to win the women’s double title.
Encouraged by the outcome of this year’s tournament, the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele who was represented by Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna, commended the players for their sportsmanship.
He used the opportunity to reaffirm CBN’s commitment to the annual sponsorship of the championship just the way it has been in the junior category.
He added that the CBN tennis event was not all about prize money alone but getting the youth meaningfully engaged all year round.
