Asogba, Itodo win NNPC Junior Tennis Championship titles

Fifteen-year-old Toyin Asogba from Lagos State won her first junior title at the NNPC Junior Tennis championship, which ended in Kaduna on Sunday by beating Omolayo Bamidele from Ekiti 9-4 in the Girls 16 final.
 
Asogba, who has been a consistent semifinalist from the 14s, took full advantage of the absence of bereaved Angel Mcleod and Marylove Edwards, who is sympathising with her rival, to make hay.    
 
“I am very happy to win and lift a trophy for the first time. I hope this victory will give me the confidence to try to beat those ahead of me in the next tournament.” Asogba, who was also named the most outstanding player of the tournament, said.
 
In the Boys 16, homeboy Chris Itodo got his revenge against namesake Chris Bulus from Lagos with the help of some loud and passionate home support. Itodo won 9-2 although the score did not tell the full story as most of the games went through several deuces and advantages.
 
Kaduna also won the Boys 14 through Gabriel Friday who made up for his poor performance at the SNEPCo Juniors three weeks ago where he did not reach the knockout stage. The national 14 and under champion beat his two Abuja based conquerors from last week, Saminu Abubarkar and Musa Sanni.
 
Friday came from 3-7 down to beat Abubarkar 9-8 in the semifinals but had an easier ride against Musa Sanni in the finals, winning 9-6.
 
Suleiman Ibrahim from Abuja won the Boys 12 beating teammate Aliu Abubarkar 9-8.