Pictured from left are under-12 boys’ bronze medallist Jasper Coetzee, silver medallist Pameni Paulus and gold medallist Shafiishuna Shafa, alongside tournament director Larushka Kruger. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Pictured from left are under-12 boys’ bronze medallist Jasper Coetzee, silver medallist Pameni Paulus and gold medallist Shafiishuna Shafa, alongside tournament director Larushka Kruger. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

#Ouses, Du Toit dominate Sanlam Junior Tournament

Tennis
The tournament featured 66 junior players competing for top honours.
Mariud Ngula
Natalia #Ouses and Henlou du Toit were crowned champions in the under-25 category at the Namibia Tennis Association’s (NTA) second Sanlam Junior Tournament, recently concluded in Windhoek.

Held at Olympia’s Central Tennis Courts (CTC), Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) and the Namibia Police Tennis Courts, the tournament featured 66 junior players competing in the under-10 to under-25 categories.

In the under-25 women’s section, top seed #Ouses claimed the overall title after defeating third seed Secilia Nghitewapo 6-1, 6-2 in the final.

#Ouses opened her campaign against Kaylar Amutse, securing a convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory. She then faced Emma Zalto in the semi-final, winning 6-2, 6-4 to book her place in the final. Second seed Hilya Nana Campbell claimed third place.

The under-25 men’s category was merged with experienced player Mari van Schalkwyk to create a mixed under-25 division for fair competition. It was contested in a round-robin format, as only two male players had entered. The rest of the players are currently participating in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) J30 Gaborone Tournament.

Du Toit beat Stephan Koen 6-1, 7-6(5) in his first match, followed by a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Van Schalkwyk in the second and deciding match. Van Schalkwyk took second place after defeating Koen 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 in her opening match.

Other winners included top seed Tadiwa Mombeyarara, who dominated the under-16 boys’ category, ahead of runner-up Aidan Matroos and third-placed Lazarus Kanelombe. No players registered for the under-16 girls’ division.

In the under-14 girls’ category, top seed Elrica Nakusera claimed the title, with Milan de Lange and Francis Boshoff finishing second and third, respectively. In the boys’ category, second seed Breyton Bezuidenhout emerged victorious, ahead of top seed Gabriel Gurirab in second place and Eric Pretorius in third.

The under-12 girls’ title went to top seed Janice Bezuidenhout, with Immaculate Tanaka Fundisi finishing second and Albertina Johannes third. In the boys’ section, second seed Shafiishuna Shafa took top honours after top seed Pameni Paulus retired following the first set. Jasper Coetzee secured third place.

In the under-10 boys’ division, third seed Ilana Aisindi emerged as the surprise winner, with Adriaan Tromp and top seed Pwoove Paulus finishing second and third, respectively. There were no participants in the under-10 girls’ category.

Speaking to Sport Wrap, tournament director Larushka Kruger said it was an interesting tournament, as half of the under-25 men and women are currently in Botswana preparing for the Region 5 Youth Games. “We moved Mari van Schalkwyk to the men's section, where she dominated and finished second. There were multiple upsets in some sets, which kept players on their toes.”

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Republikein 2025-04-13

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