Nigeria’s Ukari, Shodeinde Set For ITF Futures In Canada

The Nigerian duo of Williams Ukari and Foluke Shodeinde will be playing an ITF Futures event in Ontario, Canada this month, Nigeria Tennis Live has gathered.

Ukari, currently ranked 153 in the world, will be playing the competition as he looks forward to appearing in the Paralympics for the first time ever.

Alongside Shodeinde, the highest ranked Nigerian male tennis player on the ITF ranking, will be playing the Premier Racket Wheelchair Classic from 19-22 April in Ontario.

The prize money for the competition is $3000 and the Nigerian player is looking forward to the championship as he gears up for qualification to play at the Olympics for wheelchair tennis players.

READ ALSO: Meet Williams Ukari, Highest Ranked Nigerian Male Player On The ITF

“Presently I am ranked 153 in the world if I play in this tournament and win I will move to 70 in the world rankings.

“I will play in the Main Draw of the competition and this tournament means a lot to me because there are about three tournaments before the Olympics,” the Lagos-based Benue-born Ukari told Nigeria Tennis Live.

Our correspondent also gathered that Shodeinde, who is ranked 173 in the world, is also playing in the main draw of the Ontario competition.

Nigerian wheelchair tennis players, having missed the chance to qualify for the Paralympics via the Para African Games in 2023, are still optimistic of getting slots to play at the 2024 Paralympics in France.

Nigeria Tennis Live will keep tabs on the players and their performances at the tournament and share updates with our followers and readers.