Rwandan teams win U-16 regional Junior Tennis tourney
Monday, May 09, 2022
Rwandau2019s U-16 boy team hoist the trophy as they celebrate after beating Burundi in Sunday final.

Boys U-16 Rwanda 2-1 Burundi

Girls U-16 Kenya 1-2 Rwanda

Rwanda’s U-16 Tennis teams, both boys and girls, ended the ITF/CAT East African Junior Teams’ championship on an impressive note as they ensured the trophies stay at home after beating Burundi and Kenya in the finals respectively.

The tournament, which took place at IPRC Kigali Tennis courts on Thursday May 3, attracted seven countries from the Zone 4 region including Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopian and host nation Rwanda.

Rwanda’s U-16 boys on Sunday, May 8, ended the tournament campaign after beating Burundi in the final. The two teams were tied at 1-1 each in singles before Claude Ishimwe and Junior Hakizumwami beat Abdulshakur Malik and Allan Gatoto in game three by 2-0 (6-4 and 6-3).

The girls’ team also ended the campaign on a high note after winning two matches against Kenya’s one.

Both teams were tied on 1-1 sets as Carine Ishimwe beat Reha Kipsang on 2-0 sets (6-1 and 6-3) but Kenya forced a third match after Rona Tuyishime lost to Urasa Faith on 2-0 sets (6-4 and 6-2)

Carine Ishimwe and her counterpart Rona Tuyishime had to team up in game three to beat Kenyan duo Reha Kipsang and Urasa Faith 2-0 sets (6-0 and 6-1).

In the U-14 tournament, it was the Kenyans who performed best as their U-14 boy side beat Rwanda 2 games against one while the girls made sure they won all of the three matches they played against Burundi in the finals.

Winners from each of the boys and girls’ U14 and U16 will represent the East African zone in the junior category.