By Boluwaji Ogunmola
Winners have emerged at the second edition of GSM Tennis Championship which came to an end on Thursday in Ibadan.
After four days of hostilities at the Tennis Courts of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Isiaka Toriola, Deborah Abiodun, Mubarak Ganiyu and Imole Ayo Afolabi, emerged champions in the four categories.
Starting with the Junior Boys 16 and Under, Oyo State prodigy Mubarak Ganiyu had no issues dispatching Awe Damilare in the final match decided at the newly constructed Centre Court. Mubarak who won this same category in the first edition of the GSM Tennis Competition in 2020 won 6-2, 6-1 to successfully retain his Junior boys crown.
In the Junior girls 16 and Under, defending Champion Afolabi Imoleayo dispatched Ajulo Niniola 6-4, 6-3 to reclaim the title. The final fixture was a repeat of the 2020 Junior girls final.
Imole Ayo, who knocked out Famuyide Adura in the quarter final, dispatched Taiwo Rokibat 4-1, 4-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal clash. In the final on Thursday afternoon, Ajulo had no answer to her brilliant display.
Elsewhere, top seed Deborah Abiodun claimed the Ladies Singles title. Abiodun, playing against Awe Bamidele in the final won 6-2, 6-1. Abiodun had earlier dispatched Israel Rachael, Afolabi Taiwo and Ashade Elizabeth on her way to the final.
In the Men’s Single final match, Isiaka Toriola defeated Adewale Samson 6-3, 7-6 to emerge Champion of the category. Isiaka, who had gone past Olanrewaju Ajibade, Musa Abdulahi, Tunde Ifeta and Eluwole Eniola in the previous rounds, kept his cool throughout the exhausting two hour encounter to emerge winner of the second edition of GSM Tennis Championship.
It will be recalled that Adewale Samson also lost in the final of the maiden edition to Adeshina Ismail by 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 scoreline.
The four day Championship, which is an initiative of Hon. Tobi Oyewumi, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Oyo State on Sports Development, is meant to discover new tennis talents and positively engage youths in the Pacesetter state.
Participants in the Senior Men and Ladies category went home with cash prizes, while the winners and runners up in the Junior category went home with Trophies and Education Grants respectively as other participants were gifted Tennis Kits.
