Tennis star Angella Okutoyi who won silver with Kael Shah at the World University Games in Germany on Friday will lead a seven-player team to the Billie Jean King Cup Group III tournament in Windhoek, Namibia.
The five-day competition starting on August 4-9 is expected to be hotly contested with only one out of the 12 countries in participation earning promotion to Group II.
Other nations in contention include Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe as well as the hosts.
The Kenyan team will have Alicia Owegi, Cynthia Jeruto, Stacey Yego, Melissa Mwakha as well as teenagers Seline Ahoya and Nancy Kawira – who are currently at the African School Games in Algiers.
Tennis Kenya in a statement said the team began training two weeks ago at Karen Country Club to prepare for hard-court play.
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“Most courts in Kenya are clay but as the tournament is being played on Hardcourt surface, the club have been gracious to allow our players to train,” Tennis Kenya said.
Adding; “All players came into camp fresh from active competition, ensuring they are match-fit and mentally ready. This month, Kenya held 3 weeks of international competition that attracted over 100 players from 20 countries,”
At last year’s tournament at the Nairobi Club, Kenya finished third after losing 2-1 to Nigeria in the quarters before going down 3-0 to South Africa – who ultimately earned promotion to Group II.
