Alexis Kayinamura<\/b><\/p>\n
Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Rwandan duo Junior Hakizumwami and Gisele Umumararungu were crowned champions of the 2023 Cogebanque Tennis Open that concluded Saturday, July 15, at Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK).<\/p>\n Hakizumwami, 16, was declared winner of the tournament after his opponent Ernest Habiyambere was forced to walk off the court before the end of the third set of the men singles final after suffering a should injury.<\/p>\n Habiyambere had started brilliantly in the final, taking the first set 6-2 but Hakizumwami bounced back to win second set 6-4 to level the tie.<\/p>\n Tennis lovers were witnessing an entertaining final from the national team duo as they played the first two sets with taking home a set and while they were waiting to watch who would take home the decisive set, it was Hakizumwami who took it and was hence crowned champions after Habiyambere sustained a shoulder injury that forced him out of the court.<\/p>\n The youngster, however, didn\u2019t celebrate the win as part of showing respect to his injured opponent.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t say that I\u2019m happy at my maximum because my colleague went out injured but I hope he will be fine for the upcoming Davis Cup,\u201d said Hakizumwami.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s was difficult for me in the first set because I didn\u2019t start well but in the second one I tried to cope with the game intensive and manage to comeback,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Umumararungu, meanwhile, won the title in women\u2019s category after beating 2022 champion Olive Tuyisenge 2-0 (6-3, 6-3) in the final.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy for this win,\u201d said Umumararungu. \u201cI played against a tough player but I managed to win. Tuyisenge is my friend, she won last year, so today was my turn and it was an amazing competition… thanks to Cogebanque.\u201d<\/p>\n Organized by CSK Tennis Club in partnership with Cogebanque, the annual Tennis tournament, which was in its seventh edition, kicked off Friday, July 7, and concluded Saturday, July 15, attracting over 150 Tennis players from different national tennis clubs and three regional clubs from Uganda, Burundi and Kenya.<\/p>\n Clubs represented at the tournament include CSK Tennis Club, Nyarutarama Tennis Club, APR Tennis Club, Remera Tennis Club, Kanombe Tennis Club, Butare Tennis Club, Musanze Tennis Club, CIMERWA Tennis Club, as well as clubs from Uganda, Burundi and Kenya.<\/p>\n Besides men and women\u2019s professionals, there were also participants who competed in mixed doubles (amateur and professional), juniors (men and women) and wheelchair categories.<\/p>\n Marie von Kirchman and Karel Van Roey won the singles amateur trophies in men and women categories.<\/p>\n Mimi and Christian won doubles amateur while Emmanuel Hakizimana and Yvonne Imanishimwe emerged victorious in wheelchair category.<\/p>\n Winners from each category were given trophies and medals.<\/p>\n This was the seventh time that Cogebanque Tennis Open was happening which bank CEO Guillaume Ngamije Habarugira described definitely a success.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a great week of sports and entertainment. Our ambition goes with the well-being of people that\u2019s why we organize this tournament every year to meet and interact with our customers,\u201d said Habarugira.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thank Cercle Sportif de Kigali Tennis Club for this important partnership and we look forward to future collaborations. I encourage Tennis players and supporters to use Cogebanque inclusive financial services that are accessible, essential, and affordable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Eric Kabeza, the tournament director, hailed the bank\u2019s continued partnership and the contribution it plays to the development of Tennis at large.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our seventh time partnering with Cogebanque in organizing this tournament. It has been a success on every detail, we had many people who wanted to compete in this year\u2019s edition but only 150 qualified after passing some preliminaries and we expect an even bigger number next year,\u201d Kabeza said.<\/p>\n Cogebanque CEO Guillaume Ngamije Habarugira, said that sponsoring the tournament underscores the bank\u2019s commitment to supporting sports and promoting overall health.<\/p>\n Cogebanque Tennis open brought together players from various national tennis clubs across Kigali and two regional clubs from Goma, DR Congo and Bujumbura in Burundi.<\/p>\n Gisele Umumararungu in action at the seventh edition of the Cogebanque Tennis Open Tournament. She was crowned the Champion. Photos by Dan Gatsinzi<\/p>\n Gisele Umumararungu, the winner in Women’s category poses for a photo with Tennis Federation President Karenzi during the awards ceremony. All photos by Dan Gatsinzi<\/p>\n Junior Hakizumwami is the champion<\/p>\n Junior Hakizumwami in action during the final game. Hakizumwami is the champion<\/p>\n\r\n