Dala Hard Court Tennis: Defending champion, Agugbom, loses in semis

Blessing Samuel, sends the title holder packing.

Women’s singles defending champion, Christie Agugbom, on Thursday crashed out of the 31st edition of Dala Hard Court tournament sanctioned by the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF).
The Imo State-born Agugbom, was beaten by former champion, Blessing Samuel in an epic semi-final clash in Kano which ended in 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
It was a sweet revenge for the Benue State-born Samuel, who had lost to Agugbom in last year’s Dala Hard final which also dragged to three sets.
Reigning women’s CBN Senior Open champion, Sarah Adegoke, keeps her hope of making it a double this year alive, as she outplayed Patience Onebamhoin 6-2, 6-1, in another semi-final tie of the Dala Hard Court tournament.
Adegoke, 2015 Dala Hard Court Tennis finalist will now face Samuel on Friday {November 24} in what promises to be a cliffhanger.
In the men’s singles, CBN reigning champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola, was also sent packing from the men’s singles race as he lost to enterprising Emmanuel Idoko in a quarter-final clash.
Interestingly, Babalola’s partner in the doubles, Shehu Lawal also crashed out of the singles as he was beaten by in-form Joseph Imeh.
Imeh, 2017 CBN Senior Open finalist had outclassed former national champion, Henry Atseye 6-3, 6-2, before he stunned Lawal who won the first set 6-4 in Thursday’s clash to advance on 6-1, 6-3.
Thomas Otu also landed in the semi-final as he outplayed Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-3, 7-6 while Uche Okparaoji made the last cut to the semi-finals will be decided on Friday. Okparaoji advanced on 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Otu, also a former national champion, had dismissed Martins Abamu and Joseph Iyorovbe in the previous rounds, while Okparaoji sensationally beat Nonso Madueke 6-2, 6-2, before Thursday’s demolition of Paul of Team Kalotari to prove that he is one of the contenders for this year’s title.
Babalola and Lawal however, are through to the final of the men’s doubles to be decided on Friday, November 24.
The semi-finals of the men’s singles hold on Friday as Idoko faces Otu, while Imeh tackles Okparaoji. The final is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 25 in the ancient city of Kano.