Sports Commissioner says State Govt. ready to develop tennis

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Table Tennis

Table Tennis

The Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Enugu, Joseph Udedi, on Tuesday reiterated the state government’s readiness to develop the game of tennis in the state.

The commissioner gave the commitment in Enugu during the inauguration of the 16-man board of the Enugu State Tennis Association.

He then urged members of the Association to bring to bear their wealth of experience in tennis over the years and take the game to another level in the state.

“I request that you utilise your wealth of experience for the development of the game of tennis in the state because sports is now lucrative business and encourages self-employment,’’ Udedi said.

“The state government is doing all it can to develop sports in the state and let people know that the state is interested in all sports and not only football.

“Many people say the state pays more attention to Rangers International Football Club alone. But we want to prove them wrong by developing other sports,’’ he said.

In his response, the chairman of the Association, Prof Gab Agu said the members have been working together to keep alive the game of tennis in the state.

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“I know that tennis is one of the oldest sports in Enugu, before the advent of Rangers and other sports in the state.

“As the oldest sport in the state, we are not going to let it decline because there have been tennis competitions in the state for years,’’ he said.

Agu disclosed that the Association was planning to organise a national competition tagged “Alex Ekwueme Tennis Competition’’ in October, and which would be made an annual event.

“We also want to have a tennis competition in honour of the late Dora Akunyili before the year runs out.

“I promise that we will do our best and that our best will be enough in uplifting the game of tennis in the state.,’’ he said.

Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma is the First Vice-Chairman of the Association, while Dr Chike Akunyili, son of the late Akunyili, is the Second Vice-Chairman.

The commissioner had before now inaugurated the State Basketball Association, State Boxing Association and State Table Tennis Association.

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