Ex-tennis star embarks on talent hunt

Eight-time national junior tennis champion, Albert Adusei Osei, is helping to groom the country's next generation of tennis talents with the sixth Ashanti Junior Championship which has unearthed some amazing talents.

The annual competition, hosted at the weekend by the 4 Garrison Tennis Club in Kumasi, is expected to be made a national event, with the ultimate aim of seeking scholarship for talents to play college tennis in America.

The US-based former national star, who played alongside Frank Ofori, Eric Donkor and others in their heyday, is also assisting young talents mainly based in Kumasi with basic equipment to position them for a great takeoff.

The one-day competition, categorised between Under-12 and Under-16 for both boys and girls, produced both familiar faces and new names.

Favourites Ivan Wularu and Blessing Ama Owusuaa never disappointed, dispatching their opponents to grab the boys and girls Under-16 trophies with ease.

On his way to the final, Wularu defeated Kelvin Adande 4-1, beat Cyrus Amangore 4-3, overcame Lukeman Moro 6-4 and pipped Solomon Kabiri 6-3 in the final.

Owusuaa stamped her authority on the game with a 4-0 thrashing of Ivy Wularu in a two-horse race.

Other talents were unearthed in the other categories: Yaw Kyeremanteng, who overcame Bright Kabiri 6-3 in the boys Under-12, and Hope Gboglevor who beat Justice Eden 6-2 in the boys Under-14 category.

The rest were Yaa Gyanwaa Obiri-Yeboah, who beat Devina Adagbe 21-12 in the girls Under-12 event and Samuel Mensah who also accounted for Evelyn Adagbe 21-14 in the Under-14 category.