The second edition of the Rainoil Open Tennis is offering a minimum of N5.1million as prize money, Nigerian Tennis Live has gathered.
This much was revealed by the organizers of the championship during a press briefing at the Ikoyi Club, where the tournament will hold.
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| Henry Atseye won the first edition of the tournament held at the Country Club, Ikeja. He will fancy his chances of winning the tournament back to back. Photo: File |
According to Gabriel Ogbechie, the Group Managing Director, Rainoil Limited, apart from the tournament being one of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities, the tournament was conceived as a way of encouraging young talents and continuously support tennis in Nigeria.
He noted that the company will work on improving the tournament, and make it an international tournament where people outside the shores of Nigeria and Africa can come and be a part of it.
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| Gabriel Ogbechie, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, has vowed to make the tournament a toast of world tennis stars. Photo credit: Rainoil Limited |
The players and the general public, Mr. Ogbechie revealed, are also assured of an interesting outing at the second consecutive edition of the national tournament.
The competition kicks off with the qualifying rounds on 10 – 11 November, 2018 while the Main draw will hold from 12 – 16 November. The tournament ends on Saturday, 17 November, as the grand finale holds same day.
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| A cross section of top Rainoil Limited executives at the Press Briefing held on Monday, 5 November inside the premises of the Ikoyi Club, where the tournament will also hold. Photo: Rainoil Limited. |
Sylvester Emmanuel who has won the last two national championships will fancy his chances of making it three in a row but will face stiff opposition from other top Nigerian stars, especially Henry Atseye who won the 2017 edition of the competition.
Nigerian Tennis Live will be on ground to report proceedings from the tournament which will definitely attract most of the top Nigerian tennis stars.