Organisers splash N3.1m on Rainoil Tennis open players

The Tennis Section of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja erupted in cheers yesterday when the Group Managing Director of Rain Oil Limited, Gabriel Ogbechie announced a N3.1 million prize money for the inaugural Rainoil Tennis Open, which serves off today with the qualifiers.

The winner of the competition in the men’s category will smile home with N500, 000, while the women’s winner will be N300,000 richer at the end of hostilities at the LCC on December 17.

Speaking during the press conference to announce the competition, Ogbechie said his passion for the game necessitated his company’s decision to invest in the Open.

“We need to encourage our young ones to take on the game of tennis,” he said.

“Not only will they earn a decent income for themselves, they will also be able to come back and invest such income into the game of tennis and sports in the country in the future.

“We hope to make it an annual event, a tournament that the country’s boys and girls will be looking forward to at the end of every year.

“Apart from the winner, who will be going home with N500, 000 and N300, 000 in the men and women’s categories respectively, otherwise players will also be winning prize money.

“I can promise a healthy rivalry between the players as there will be such awareness among them that anyone you lose to, will get twice as much as your prize money.”