Nigeria’s top-ranked female tennis player, Barakat Quadri, delivered a commanding performance at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, leading Delta State to two gold medals in the tennis competition.
On Monday, the US-based star teamed up with Ronke Akingbade to secure victory in the women’s doubles final, defeating Edo State’s duo, Lovely Holzendorf and Blessing Omotayo, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
This win came on the heels of Quadri’s dominant display in the women’s singles final on Sunday, where she cruised past Ogun State’s Yakubu Ohunene with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory to claim her first gold of the tournament.
In the men’s events, Ogun State’s Azeez Aleem and Christopher Bulus overcame a tough challenge from Bayelsa’s David Ekpeyong and Uche Oparaoji in a gripping men’s doubles final. After dropping the opening set, the Ogun duo fought back to take the match in three sets.
Bulus also clinched the men’s singles gold on Sunday, defeating Ekpeyong 6-2 in the first set before the latter retired while trailing 2-0 in the second.
Quadri, who had been aiming for a treble, narrowly missed out on a third gold in the mixed doubles final. Partnering with Ikechukwu Iloputa, she fell short against Ogun State’s team of Bulus and Ohunene, who triumphed 6-1, 6-4.
Reacting to the quality of play at the tournament, President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Ifedayo Akindoju, expressed optimism about the sport’s growth in the country.
“The final matches were outstanding. Despite a brief delay due to a player’s cramps, the overall level of competition was very impressive. I’m pleased with the standard we witnessed,” he said.
