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Kenya’s tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi has given an account of an emotional moment that fueled her desire to win a first tennis gold medal for Kenya at the African Games since 1978.
Kenya’s tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi has credited her gold at the African Games to a strong mentality that does not easily give up.
Okutoyi made history by winning a first tennis gold medal for Kenya at the games since 1978 after she floored Egyptian Lamis Abdelaziz with an impressive score of 6-4, 6-2 in the final on Thursday.
That saw her put one foot at the Paris 2024 Olympics, another historic achievement for Kenya, but she feels she would not have hacked it had she given up easily in an epic semi-final that lasted over four hours.
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16:10 - 21.03.2024
TENNIS Angella Okutoyi clinches historic gold at African Games
Angella Okutoyi has won gold at African Games making history as first Kenyan woman victor in 46 years.
“Yesterday [Wednesday] when I was 2-5 down, I really told myself that I could do it, actually, I was crying on my bench, so I feel that it really helped me a lot just to calm down and focus on what I need to do,” said Okutoyi after winning gold.
“And I just have this fighter’s spirit in myself that I know I can do it, I can beat anyone, and that really motivated me.”
Okutoyi had to do it the hard way in the semi-final against another Egyptian Mayar Sherif, a global tennis powerhouse ranked 70th worldwide.
In a match that lasted four hours and 27 minutes, Sherif snatched the first set 7-5 but the Kenyan claimed the second 7-5 before edging out the Egyptian in a nail-biting third set 7-6.
That set the tone for the final where the 20-year-old proved dominant to win a first African title in tennis for Kenya since Jane Davies-Doxzon's victory 46 years ago.
Victory leaves Okutoyi all but assured an Olympics spot as she has broken into the top 400 rankings and she cannot hide her joy.
“First I want to thank GOD for getting me this far,” Okutoyi posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Second, I want to thank my team, my federation, NOCK, my school, people back home, and everyone who l haven’t mentioned, and my fans.”
“This just means so much to me, a childhood dream coming to light participating at the Olympics. Hope this gives someone watching belief that anything is possible.”
Okutoyi is no stranger to historic achievements. She previously etched her name in history as the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title at the girls’ juniors Wimbledon, partnering with Rose Marie of the Netherlands.
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11:37 - 24.12.2023
TENNIS German tennis star in awe of Okutoyi's performance at Women’s World Tennis Tour tourney
A German tennis star has showered Angela Okutoyi with love after her world-class performance at the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour (W25) tournament.
She also holds the distinction of being the first Kenyan to win a girls’ junior single Grand Slam match at the 2022 Australian Open.
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