Junior team snatch fourth-place in ITF tourney

RWANDA FINISHED fourth in the first leg of the ITF/CAT East African Junior Championship which climaxed on Wednesday at the Gymkhana Club courts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Rwanda scooped 260 points, coming behind winners Burundi who amassed 735; host Tanzania in second place with 660 points and Kenya with 575 points came in third position.Ethiopia and Sudan finished fifth and sixth with 190 points and 170 points respectively, while Djibouti finished bottom of the ranking table with no point.Rwanda’s best player was Ernest Habiyambere, who amassed 150 points in the Under 16 category after reaching the last four.Olive Tuyisenge, Fabrice Tuyishime and David Uwimana are the other players, who staged an impressive performance to secure 40, 35 and 35 points respectively.Top seed Habiyambere and Tuyishime were the country’s best players despite bowing out of the first leg in the last four. Habiyambere, was eliminated by Tanzania’s Martin Tumaini, while Fabrice Tuyishime lost to Burundian Abdoul Kabura 7-6 [4] 6-1 in the Boys U-14 Singles.Tanzanian Martin Tumaini braved the scorching sun to clinch the ITF/CAT East African Junior Championship trophy.The Arusha-based budding player needed one hour to see off his Kenyan opponent Cheruyot Kevin 6-2, 6-4. In the Under-14 category, another Tanzanian, Omary Sulle took the top prize after crushing Burundian Kabura Shakuru with 6-3, 6-0 victory.Burundian Mariam Mjawimana won the Girls’ Under-16 title after defeating Tanzanian Georgina Kaindoha 6-4, 6-3. In the girls Under-14 category, Naimana Sada of Burundi beat her compatriot Nyiokuru Aisha 6-3,6-1 while in the boys’ event was won by Kenyan Shah Kean, who 6-3, 6-1 over fellow Kenyan Radiek Ryan.The second leg of the regional tournament resumes today at Dar Gymkhana Club courts, giving a second chance to Rwandans to make amends for the first leg shortcomings.

Sports

Junior team snatch fourth-place in ITF tourney