Babolat Double Open records high patronage

The sixth edition of the Babolat Double Open was climaxed last Saturday with thrilling actions from the three venues in Tema.

Fans of the sport in Tema and its environs enjoyed action-packed tennis as Ishmael Dowuona and Richard Okine displayed incredible talent to lift the under-16 trophy.

The TOR Tennis Club, Tema Tennis Club, and GHACEM Tennis Club recorded high attendances as fans trooped in to watch their favourite tennis players battle for the trophies and prizes at stake.

The tournament recorded more than 50 participants with entries for Social 1, 16 pairs for Social 2, 10 for Under 16, 10 for mixed doubles. Ishmael Dowouna and Richard Okine fought well from the prelims last Friday, September 21 and lifted the Under 16 trophy, together with a racquet, tennis shoes & accessories, plus 3 months gym access after beating debutants Desmond Ayaba and Bright Nortey in the finals by 6-3, 6-2.

The Social 1, saw the Ablorh brothers, picking up the runners up prizes; tennis bag, apparels, accessories and 3 months gym access at the Baboo Fitness Centre at Tema Community 11 new shell, as they lost 6-4, 6-4 to Fred and Clement.

Kobby and Michael were 2 straight sets losing finalists to Charles and George with a 6-2, 6-2 results. It was all joy when Paa Kofi and Ike Nartey defeated Napo Wobil and Alfred Adjei in the above 50 category by a single set, 8-2 to become the new champions.

In the mixed doubles, title holders Yvonne Bruce Tagoe and Andrew Adu Appiah successfully retained their trophy as they dispatched Kate Coleman and Robert Botchway 6-4, 6-4 in the finals played on Sunday, September 23, 2018.

Speaking to the Media after the presentation at the TOR Tennis Club House, organizer and representative of Babolat (Baboo Sports Shop) Ismaila Lamptey, popularly known as Baboo said the massive turn out made the tourney superb.

“My motivation to organize this tournament has always been my contribution towards the development of tennis in Ghana. This year I added the above 50 category, so that the old, can have a fair share of the tennis they play every day and also have a competition among themselves and truly, they had a good tournament. This year has been superb because using 3 venues should tell you the participation has been massive. Performance throughout the various categories has been superb, everybody really prepared well for this year. We have had a good tournament mostly because new faces have also come on board and gone far.” The 6th edition tournament which was partnered by Tenolf Sports Ghana also saw massive sponsorships from Saint- Gobain Weber, Ecostar, Mcdan, Bossgie limited, Lucof Investment Ltd, Jonmoore, Physioshop, Beniigh, and Bethel Hospital.

Quarterfinalists of the event also walked away with tennis accessories and 1 month gym access while semifinalists received tennis apparels, accessories and 2 months gym access.