#Gateway Games: Ekpeyong, Quadri lead the way as top seeds dominate Day 2 of Tennis

Top seeds David Ekpeyong and Barakat Quadri led a dominant charge on Day 2 of the tennis competition at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as favourites comfortably sailed into the second round.

Bayelsa State’s Ekpeyong, the men’s singles top seed, wasted no time asserting his authority with a commanding 4-0, 4-0 victory over Oyo State’s Morakinyo Ridwan Adewale.

The match, played at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, lasted under 30 minutes, highlighting Ekpeyong’s superior form.

“It was a good match.

“I’m happy to be back on court. My opponent was solid, but I was better today.

“I believe I’ll get sharper as the tournament progresses,” said Ekpeyong, who now faces Rubi Toba of Taraba State in the second round.

Toba earlier defeated Kaduna’s Benjamin Jeremiah 5-3, 4-0.

Also advancing in the men’s draw was Danjuma Lucky of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who swept past Henry Nwosu of Imo State with a 4-0, 4-0 win.

He will next meet Henry Aina of Ondo State, who overcame Ekiti’s Abamu Mathew.

Other men’s singles results included:

• Abua Candice (Rivers) defeated Abdul Mohammed (Nasarawa) 4-2, 4-2;
• Mohammed Amir (Ijaw) beat Akwaowo Akwa (Akwa Ibom) 4-2, 4-1;
• Olabode Lawal (Lagos) edged Ehigiamusoe Endurance (Edo) 5-4(5), 4-2;
• Abubakar Yusuf (FCT) awaits Lawal in the next round.

In the women’s singles, Delta State’s Barakat Quadri produced a near-flawless performance, dispatching Benue’s Iornumun Mary 4-0, 4-0 to book a second-round meeting with Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa State.

Other notable results in the women’s category:

• Maxwell Timipre (Rivers) defeated Alice Paul (Ondo);
• Omotayo Blessing (Edo) beat Ganiyu Fatima (Oyo) 4-1, 4-1;
• Adeusi Jesutoyosi (Ekiti) ousted Yakubu Oiza (Ogun) 4-2, 4-2;
• Moses Favour (Kaduna) advanced to face Udofa Mary in the next round.

With early rounds wrapping up, attention now turns to the next phase of matchups, as rising talents and seasoned contenders gear up for tougher battles in the coming days.

The tennis tournament continues to attract enthusiastic crowds and deliver high-quality action at the NSF.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook