By EMMANUEL AFONNE

No fewer than 100 players will slug it out in the 2025 NTF-CBN Tennis Championship scheduled to begin on July 21, at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senior Open Tennis Championship, now in its 46th edition, is organised by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja ahead of the championship, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, said that 64 players would feature in the men’s singles, while 32 players would participate in the women’s singles.

“There will also be 32 doubles teams in each of the men’s and women’s categories, and 16 participants in each of the wheelchair events.”

She reaffirmed the bank’s longstanding commitment to nation-building through sports.

Ali underscored the vital role young people played in national development.

“Over the years, this championship has helped young talents, provided them with a constructive outlet and a chance to showcase their abilities on a national stage.

“This year’s event will feature a full range of categories: men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as wheelchair tennis for both men and women, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to inclusive participation.

“The event offers young players from across the country the opportunity to compete at a national level and gain exposure to international selection pathways.

“Over its four-decade history, the Senior Open Tennis Championship has produced some of the country’s most celebrated names in the sport, including Sunday Maku, David Imonite, Veronica Oyibokia-Iwebema and Christy Agugbom.

“Sarah Adegoke, Sylvester Emmanuel, Imeh Joseph, Oyinlomo Quadri, Marylove Edwards and many others were discovered through this championship.

“As the tournament prepares to welcome a new cohort of players, its longevity suggests that sports remain a meaningful part of the country’s wider youth development landscape,” she said.

NTF President, Ifedayo Akindoju, said that the preliminary matches would commence on Friday at the Package B of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, while the championship proper would begin on July 21.

Akindoju said that the annual championship, organized in close partnership with the CBN, had become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s tennis calendar and a key platform for identifying and nurturing local talents.

He acknowledges the CBN’s continued support, describing it as instrumental in sustaining the growth of the sport.

“This support is strengthening Nigeria’s representation in major competitions such as the Davis Cup and the African Games.

“The NTF and the CBN have collaborated for decades to ensure the tournament remains a consistent and credible pipeline for the country’s top players,” he said. (NAN)