Tennis Kenya readies to host continental junior tournament beginning next week
Tennis Kenya will be hosting the prestigious ITF/CAT 14 and U African Junior Championship (AJC) 2025, from February 24 to March 1, 2025 at the Nairobi Club.
This follows Kenya’s successfully hosting the ITF/CAT Eastern Africa Zone Championships for 14 and 16 under last month at the same facility.
AJC, a competition for boys and girls aged 14 & under is organized by the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) in conjunction with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Tennis Kenya.
AJC brings together champions from the five African Zones. This continental Grade A event aimed at nurturing Africa’s emerging tennis talent will feature players from 15 countries: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Madagascar, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
The warm up event is taking place today and tomorrow before the official opening ceremony tomorrow. The championship promises to be an exciting showcase and a thrilling celebration of the next generation of African tennis stars.
About 60 players are represented in this tournament. Kenya is represented by; Quadros Ayaan, Jyal Patel, Bulsara Vihaan and Olembo Indiatsi (boys). As for the girls roster; Ashley Wafula, Felicia Ouko, Bathsheba Ogamba and Jenerica Rogoi.
In today’s warm-up matches; Bulsara Vihaan was to face Nicholas Kruger in the boys singles match with Jyal Patel coming head to head against Carl Sithole of Zimbabwe. Additionally, Kenya’s Nathani Khalil came up against Manzungu Machengeti of Zimbabwe with Quadros Ayaan coming up versus Mostafa Abdellatif of Egypt. Later on in the day, Olembo Indiatsi played against Nkolo Enyin Sem Victoria of Cameroon at centre court.
As for the girls warm-up contests; Bathsheba Ogamba trained with Elsayed Jana of Egypt and later Felicia Ouko went up against Eima Rotundo of Zimbabwe. Other girls’ warm-ups on the roster included compatriots Naila Gikunda and Ashley Wafula battling under the sun.
The championship will be overseen by CAVB IV president Wanjiru Karani with the Tournament Director (TD) being Thierry Ntawali.
