Mubarak, Aminu shine as ITF Junior Tennis enters second week

Number one seed, Ganiu Mubarak, defeated Iyanuoluwa Taiwo 6-3, 6-4 on Monday in the second week of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J30 in Ikeja.
Third seed, Oluwajomiloju Aminu, eased past Oghenekewe Mukoro 6-0, 6-1 in a dominant display that delighted spectators.
David Omozokpia beat fellow Nigerian Joel Michael 6-2, 6-1, while Ayomide Oduwaye edged Dayok Shimankinaan 7-5, 6-1 in a keenly contested match.
India’s Vyom Shah defeated Nigeria’s Victor Hembah 6-2, 6-2, while Olawale Gbolahan outclassed Israel’s Doron Hirsch 6-0, 6-0.
America’s Elliott Awomoyi claimed a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Tade Nzewi in another impressive performance.
Australia’s Abhik Khatry beat Heman Afaramai 6-2, 7-5, while Fego Ayetuoma edged Tiffany Oshodi 6-3, 6-4 in an exciting encounter.
The tournament’s second week has continued to thrill fans with remarkable displays from emerging talents.
The competition, which runs from November 8 to 15, offers junior athletes a chance to earn ranking points and gain vital experience.
The young players have shown strong passion and confidence, producing tightly contested matches and entertaining rallies.
Supporters praised the organisers for bringing top-quality junior tennis to Lagos and nurturing young talent.
The tournament is organised by the Tiger Tennis Foundation, founded by Paul Moses, to provide a platform for young players to showcase and develop their skills.
Mubarak expressed delight after his win, saying he was pleased with his focus and execution throughout the match.
“I’m really happy with how I played today. I stayed composed and stuck to my plan from start to finish,” he said.
He promised to keep giving his best in the remaining matches and stay focused on winning the title.
Australian 16-year-old, Abhik Khatry, also expressed joy after his hard-fought win, despite struggling with food poisoning.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to win because I’ve had food poisoning, but I’m really happy I came through at the end,” he said.
He described Nigeria as a welcoming country, noting that his experience had been far better than he expected.
“Nigeria is a nice place. It’s not as bad as people think. I highly recommend people come and see it for themselves,” he said.
Khatry praised the quality of the Lagos courts, describing the clay surface as fun and enjoyable to play on.
He expressed hope of performing well in the second week and pushing himself to achieve the best possible result.
“It’s very hot and humid, and that’s challenging, but overall, it’s been a fun and positive experience,” he added.
Looking ahead, he said he was confident of finishing strongly, adding: “Hopefully, I can reach the finals and win if I play well.”
The tournament features talented young players from Nigeria and abroad competing for top honours.
The event continues at the Lagos Country Club, with champions set to earn 30 ranking points and trophies.
The finals are scheduled for November 15, with players expected to gain valuable experience and recognition.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Heading 4
Longest-serving Republican speaker Dennis Hastert, soiled by allegations of molesting high school athletes, dies at 84
The deceased, who was speaker from 1999 until 2007, was sentenced in 2016 to more than a year behind bars.

Anti-Corruption
Witness reveals how funds were moved to private accounts in ex-Taraba governor’s trial
The judge adjourned the matter till October 6, 2026, for continuation of the evidence of PW3.

Education
JAMB moves to adopt UTME centre in Canada for 2027
The board said the centre would enable eligible Nigerians living in Canada to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria.

States
No survivors yet in Ondo military helicopter crash, says Gov. Aiyedatiwa
Mr Aiyedatiwa said he got the information about the crash at about 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

Hot news Home top
I don’t want migrants from other countries to turn UK into nation of ‘little ghettos’: Kemi Badenoch
The Tory leader argued that immigrants must respect the culture and values of the UK.

States
Religious leaders laud Governor Sani’s inclusive governance
The religious leaders pointed out that Kaduna State now enjoys relative peace and harmony.





