Kenya’s top tennis player Angela Okutoyi started her International University Sports Federation (FISU) the World University Games on a high by beating Thailand’s Lidia Podgorichani in her first round of the games.
The singles’ round of 64 match played at the Rhine-Ruhr in Germany, the double African tennis champion won 6-2 and 6-2 to move into the second round where she will face off with Australian Catherine Aulia, who beat Italian Virgina Ferrara 6-3 6-4.
Coming from Auburn University, the three-time Kenya Open, seeded 9th brought joy to the Team Kenya camp and is expected to face off with including China’s Xinxin Yao and Russia’s Alevtina Ibragimova and Polina Latcenko.
However, it was disappointing when USA-based Kael Shalin Shah bowed out in the men’s singles when he lost to Italian Fabio De Michele 6-3, 6-2 in round of 128.
Despite dropping out of the championships, Kael will have another chance to pair with Okutoyi in the mixed doubles.