Abuja: Sponsors of the Davnotch National Open Tennis Championship have committed to increasing the prize money for winners, raising it from N8 million to a more attractive amount. President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Ifedayo Akindoju, made this announcement while addressing the media on the championship’s format, which features over 100 players.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akindoju revealed that the updated prize money has not been disclosed yet and will be announced in a few days as the championship progresses. He emphasized that the increase is intended to surprise participants and that ongoing negotiations prevent him from revealing the exact amount at this time. However, he assured that the final amount would be published soon, allowing players in both male and female categories to be informed.
Akindoju also announced the addition of a junior category to the championship, which is now in its fifth edition, to allow young players to showcase their talents. This decision came after a challenge was identified in a recent event where junior players under 14 years old were eager to participate but were ineligible due to age restrictions. The federation responded by creating the Davnotch Junior category, which commenced that afternoon.
Efforts are underway to persuade the sponsors to continue their support for the championship, as the current five-year sponsorship deal is nearing its end. Akindoju highlighted the championship’s role in discovering new talents and expressed his commitment to renewing the partnership with Davnotch. The championship began on Sunday and is set to conclude on Saturday.