Don't throw in the towel, just keep fighting

Fans celebrate during the Billie Jean King cup Africa group III match against Nigeria's Quadre Baraka Oyinlomo at Nairobi Club. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

It was not the kind of results Kenyans were wishing for, but one that gives hope to the youngsters.

Kenyan finished third in the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III tennis tournament that ended in Nairobi at the weekend.

Morocco emerged the overall champions, after defeating Tunisia in a pulsating final.

Morocco will now represent the region at the Euro-Africa tournament next season.

The continental showpiece was a blessing to Kenya in many fronts. First, renovations of Nairobi Club courts means the clay court now conforms to the required ITF standards.

Moroccan dou Malak El Allami (left) and Aya El Aouni after beating Tunisia during the Billie Jean King cup Africa group III match at Nairobi Club. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The tournament inspired young players, especially those in primary schools who trooped at the event just to have a glimpse of Wimbledon junior doubles champion Angella Okutoyi in action.

Stacy Yego, 15, who was in the Kenyan team as a reserve, said Okutoyi is her role model and would love to play like her one day.

Okutoyi was literally in a class of her own as she destroyed her rivals with ease.

She won many of her singles without much struggle, jogging against Uganda, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Okutoyi's flawlessness in the competition showed what being in an ITF centre for nine years can do.

She is also under a tennis scholarship at Auburn University in the US. Resilient Cynthia Cheruto also proved a hard to crack, bringing down opponents way above her in class at the event. Cheruto's main struggle was keeping up with the demanding daily matches.

"I was quite fatigued, most of my muscles were aching," Cheruto told Standard Sports.

Kenya's Alicia Owegi and Angella Okutoyi after playing doubles against Zimbabwe during the Billie Jean King cup Africa group III match against at Nairobi Club. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The fact that Alicia Owegi and Roselida Asumwa are also based in the US on full tennis scholarships like Okutoyi should inspire them even more.

The fall to Nigeria on Day Five was such an eye opener for Kenya. It showed there was a huge gap between Okutoyi and her teammates that needed to be bridged.

The fall to the West Africans showed there is great need to come up with tennis centres to build future talents.

The heavy government presence during the tournament was a boost to the team too. The state injected Sh22.3 million to the tournament.

The Kenya tennis team also enjoyed support from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya and Athletics Kenya who brought in world beaters everyday to cheer up the squad.

Among the stars who lit up the spectators seats at the centre court included World 1500m record holder Faith Kipyegon, triple World Half Marathon champion Geofrey Kamworor, former World Marathon champion Geoffrey Kirui and Taekwondo ace Faith Ogallo.

Others were the rugby 15s, the national golf team, the swimming team and the Deaflympians.

"As a team, we felt so nice with the presence of Kipyegon, Kamworor and among others who were here to give us support. It's such a great privilege that the world beaters were watching us play. You just don't see that happening everyday so we felt honored," Okutoyi said.

"They talked to us and it really meant a lot to the team, we felt encouraged, their confidence boost helped us to face our opponents with vigour."