Kenya’s Seline Ahoya completed an unbeaten run to win the girls’ tennis gold medal at the 2026 ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games in Nairobi on Thursday, leading the hosts to a gold-and-silver finish in the competition at Kenyatta University.
The 16-year-old Ahoya, a student at Lavington Girls Secondary School, defeated Uganda’s Lilian Ayee 6-3, 6-2 in the final to cap a dominant campaign and underline her status as one of Kenya’s promising young tennis players.
Compatriot Nancy Kawira claimed silver after beating Jenerica Thuku 6-1, 6-2, while Ayee settled for bronze.
Ahoya said hard work, fitness, footwork and proper nutrition had played a key role in her success throughout the tournament.
“It feels good to be a champion and it means a lot to me,” said Ahoya, who admitted she had not expected to win the title.
She said the biggest lesson from the tournament was the importance of perseverance.
“My biggest lesson is to never give up and fight until the end,” she added.
Ahoya’s teacher and coach, Melissa Juliet, praised the youngster’s resilience, revealing that she had not been feeling well during the competition but still managed to win all her matches.
Juliet said the school would celebrate Ahoya’s latest success after she also emerged champion and Most Valuable Player at the recent East African Games in Morogoro, Tanzania.
Ahoya’s unbeaten campaign also provided valuable international exposure as she competed against players from across the region, experience she believes will help her development as she progresses through the junior ranks.
Kawira, 16, said her silver medal would motivate her to train harder.
“I feel good because hard work pays,” she said, adding that tennis had given her opportunities to travel and work hard. She named American star Coco Gauff as her role model, saying she admires her energy.
Kenya also claimed silver in the boys’ competition through Mark Murage, who lost 6-1, 6-1 to Uganda’s top seed Samuel Okello in the final.
Edward Mwakio took bronze after beating Jyan Patel 6-2, 6-0, while self-taught Dohn Kelly Ochieng of Migori finished fifth after defeating Tanzania’s Damiano Rungu 6-2, 6-7, 10-5.
Murage, 17, said he was proud of his silver medal despite losing the final and identified dealing more aggressively with short balls as an area he needs to improve. He plans to compete in ITF events in Nairobi in October.
Okello, 15, said winning gold for Uganda felt good and attributed his success to consistency in keeping the ball in play. His next target is the East African Under-18 Championship in Burundi.
“I kept my promise,” said Okello after fulfilling his earlier prediction that he would win gold.
Patel, 15, said the tournament had been challenging but valuable, with his fourth-place finish giving him confidence while showing there was still room for improvement. He plans to compete in ITF events in Nairobi later in the year and is targeting his first ranking points.
ANOCA Zone 5 president Donald Rukare hailed the organisation of the Youth Games, praising the facilities, accommodation, catering and overall organisation at Kenyatta University, the Kasarani Aquatic Centre and venues in Murang’a County.
Rukare, who is also Commonwealth Games president, said feedback from the nine participating countries and the Refugee Team had been excellent. He added that the Games provided an important pathway for athletes aged between 14 and 18 to develop into senior and elite competitors.
Rukare said ANOCA Zone 5 intends to stage the Youth Games every two years, with the next edition expected in 2028. He attributed the irregularity of previous editions largely to Covid-19 disruptions, a crowded international sporting calendar, and financial and logistical constraints.
Tennis Kenya president Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani said the three-day tennis competition attracted four countries and provided valuable match exposure for the participating youngsters.
She explained that tennis was originally intended as a warm-up for the Dakar Youth Olympics but became a demonstration sport after a facility issue, reducing the number of countries willing to send players.
Mbugua-Karani thanked Tanzania, Uganda and Somalia for participating and providing competitive matches.
At Kenyatta University, Director of Sports and Games Dr Francis Mundia Mwangi said the institution was privileged to host the Games and had used the opportunity to upgrade its facilities with support from the National Olympic Committee and the government.
Mwangi said the university remains open to hosting and partnering on major sporting events, including the 2029 World Athletics Championships.