2024 Gateway Games: Barakat, Bulus, Ekpeyong Advance to Tennis Quarter-finals

2024 Gateway Games: Barakat, Bulus, Ekpeyong Advance to Tennis Quarter-finals

Ibrahim Lateef

Nigeria's tennis heavyweights Quadri Barakat from Delta State, Christopher Bulus from Ogun State, and David Ekpeyong from Bayelsa State have qualified for the quarter-finals of the tennis event at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

Quadri Barakat delivered an impressive performance, defeating Ekpeyong Rebecca of Bayelsa State with scores of 4-1 and 4-0.

Barakat will next face Emmanuel Essien Bright from the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), who triumphed over Maxwell Timipre from Rivers State with scores of 4-2 and 5-3.

Omotayo Blessing of Edo State also advanced after defeating Adeusi Jesutoyosi from Ekiti State with scores of 4-0 and 4-1. She will soon face Udofa Mary of Akwa Ibom State, who knocked out Favour Moses from Kaduna State.

Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti State progressed by defeating Abosede Bamidele from Lagos State, who retired after losing 4-1.

Ogunjobi will compete against Aina Goodnews from the Invited Junior Athletes in the quarter-finals.

Etoro Bassey from Akwa Ibom will face Yakubu Ohunene from Ogun State in the last quarter-final match.

Bassey qualified by beating Godwin Favour of Nasarawa with scores of 4-0 and 4-0, while Ohunene advanced after defeating Anuna Blessing from FCT with scores of 4-1 and 4-2.

In the men's events, Christopher Bulus from Ogun State showed great form, defeating Timibra Godgifts from Rivers State with scores of 4-1 and 4-2, setting up a quarter-final match against Michael Chima from Edo State.

Chima qualified after overcoming Iloputa Ikechukwu from Delta State with scores of 5-3 and 5-4 (5).

Former number one Uche Oparaoji from Bayelsa State advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Urenyang Nuhu from Taraba State with scores of 4-1 and 4-2.

He will next play rising star Daniel Adeleye from Ekiti State, who earlier defeated Ibrahim Suleiman from Kaduna State with scores of 4-1 and 4-1.

Nigeria's number one, David Ekpeyong from Bayelsa State, was dominant against Rubi Toba from Taraba State, winning with scores of 4-0 and 4-2 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Ekpeyong will face Danjuma Lucky from FCT, who advanced by knocking out Abamu Mathew from Ekiti State.

Abua Canice from Rivers State also secured his spot in the quarter-finals, where he will meet Abubakar Yusuf from FCT.

Canice achieved this by defeating Azi David from Delta State with scores of 4-1 and 4-0, while Yusuf advanced after beating Ehigiamusoe Endurance from Edo State with scores of 4-0 and 4-2.

The quarter-final matches will take place at the Tennis Center of the newly renovated MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State.