Exactly N3.4million will be up for grabs as price monies by would-be victorious athletes at the end of maiden Davnotch National Open Tennis Championship.
The competition which officially serves off on Friday May 14 will climax on Saturday May 22, 2021 at the outdoor Tennis court, package B, Moshood Abiola National stadium Abuja.
Chairman Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Engr. Ifedayo Akindoju, who disclosed this in Abuja on Monday said the week-long tournament marks the beginning of many competitions lined up for the year.
Engr. Akindoju said the fresh partnership between NTF and Davnotch is the beginning of great deal of further tennis development in Nigeria.
He announced that the championship was open for athletes who are up to 14 years and above.
The NTF boss also disclosed that a number of national and international events are scheduled to keep Nigeria athletes in shape and enable them fare well in the global ranking between May and December, 2021.
“The Davnotch tennis open championship would have taken place last but for COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted sporting activities all over the world.
“Practically, most of the competitions that are already scheduled for the year would have happened in 2020. As a federation, we will continue with our developmental programmes as well as continue to expose our athletes in competitions,” he said.
Also speaking, a representative of Davnotch Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Emmanuel Ochei, said the company will continue to support the development of sports, particularly tennis in the country.
He said, “We have been sponsoring the wheelchair tennis event in the past years. We have now taken our desire to grow the sport further by sponsoring both able body and physically challenged competitions.
“Because we understand how important sports are in engaging the youths and take them off the streets, we will also commit to further support athletes that will be discovered from this championship to enable them reach the zenith of their career.”
A total of 368 athletes will be taking part during the competition with the winners of men and ladies singles smiling home with N1million, while the winners of double events (men and ladies) get N200, 000.
Winners of wheelchair singles (men and ladies) will pocket N300, 000.
There will also be huge prize monies for runners up, semifinalists, quarterfinalists, second and first round winners.
