Rivers Set To Increase Medal Haul Through Tennis

Team Rivers is set to increase its medals haul at the National Sports Festival with its final qualification in the two Tennis events to be decided today.

Rivers still leads in the overall medals table with 56 Gold, 18 Silver and 25 Bronze medals.

The Rivers Tennis team has three players in the finals of the Men and Ladies Singles events, with two of its players squaring against each other in the Ladies singles event.

Nonso Madueke of Rivers would meet Anthony Michael of Kaduna in the men singles final while Abiola Akewula and Chidinma Abba both of Rivers, would meet in the ladies final.

Abaa told reporters that she was adequately motivated for the final and would not attach any form of sentiment in the final against her compatriot.

“Though we are striving for the collective success of the state, I would still go for the gold medal to confirm my superiority among my compatriots,” she said.

Michael from Plateau also said that he would not be intimidated by the vociferous support assured for his Rivers opponent in the final.

“Having worked my way to the final, it would be fool-hardy to surrender the title to any opponent no matter his background,” he said.

Michael noted that the ankle injury which he sustained during his third round match with an Ogun opponent, would not hamper his performance in the final.

Musa Bala, Official Referee of the Tennis event, told reporters that doubles and mixed doubles events were at their quarter finals and second round stages respectively.

“Our games have been going according to plans and we pray for clement weather to enable us conclude them on schedule,” he said.