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Veteran tennis stars Blantyre-based Julius Tauro and Tadala Kandulu on Monday emerged champions in the men’s and women’s singles categories respectively during the 2004 National Finance Company Limited (Natfin) National Open Tennis Championships staged at the Blantyre Sports Club.
The three-day annual event was the third to be sponsored by Natfin after sponsoring others in Lilongwe in 2002 and 2003.
Taulo beat contender Peter Lungu 4-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while Kandulu, an Our Lady of Wisdom student, beat Angella Msosa 6-4, 7-5.
As the men’s champion, Taulo, who has been claiming the title over the past five years, received K20,000 while his female counterpart Kandulu got K12,000.
Attracting about 190 participants in all categories, the tournament also saw the pair of national tennis coach Thomson Mtengula and champion Julius Taulo beating the pair of George Chisambo and Henry Mtuta 6-3 6-1 in the doubles.
The women’s doubles title was claimed by the partnership of Frances Vose and Maggie O-toole who whacked Tadala Kandulu and Emmah Msatiyenda 6-3 6-3.
The mixed doubles championship went to Julius Taulo and Frances Vose who humbled Tadala Kandulu and Huxon Methiwa 6-3 6-2.
Natfin general manager Mike Bamford praised the organisers led by Mtengula for a well-organised and successful event.
“This one was the best of the three we have sponsored and we will come again next year at the same place and time. Tennis is good and it is a deserving game because golf and soccer already get more funding from other institutions,” said Bamford whose company breathed K250,000 into this year’s event.
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