Echoes of excitement are still rolling vibrantly about the exploits of fast-rising tennis prodigy, Karina Opuene, who twinkled in the colours of Bayelsa State at the recent Niger Delta Games in Edo State.
READ ALSO: Anthony Joshua Signs Agreement To Fight Tyson Fury, Set For Ring Return In June
Sports247 reports that the competition at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City provided another focal point for Opuene to exhibit her immense talent, and the junior student from Yenagoa left all mouths agape.
The terrain provided her with another opportunity of showcasing the mettle that made her part of Nigeria’s female team at last year’s ITF/CAT U-12 Western African Teams’ Championship in Accra, Ghana.
That was in September, when the team coached by Wunmi Ogunsakin also featured Mofifunoluwa Atilola and Mabubat Rasaki, alongside Opuene against girls from Benin Republic, Togo and host country, Ghana.
After excelling at Ghana Lawn Tennis Club in Adabraka, Opuene’s next moment in the spotlight came at the Niger Delta Games in Benin City, but this time she had to play against much older opponents in the U20 age cadre.
She eventually lost in the second round of the ladies’ singles, but the former pupil of Immaculate Ideas Academy in Yenagoa consoled herself with valuable lessons that she learnt to boost her targets for a better future in the game.
The shy lass, who admires the styles of women’s world number one, Aryna Sabalenka and American legend, Serena Williams, disclosed that her father motivated her to start playing tennis in 2021.
Opuene, who hails from Nembe in Bayelsa State, disclosed: “Dad asked me to play tennis because he wants me to become a world champion like Serena Williams and so that people will know me from all over the world.”
Her mentor and coach at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Sports Club, Barbara Omieha added: “I wake her up like 5am and we go and train very early in the morning. We train for about 1:30mins and she showers in Jonathan’s house and I drive her to school.
“After school, at about 2:30, we train again until it is dark. She’s an exceptional kid and I don’t try to coach her alone. I pay other coaches to also train her when we travel. There were things I didn’t teach her that she has started doing.”
