Baboucarr Jawara alias ‘Skills’ from Bakau Upper Basic School is the winner of the 2007 Gambia Tennis Association U-12 School Tennis Initiative championship, in a final played on Saturday.

Nine schools - Bakau Upper Basic, Greater Banjul Upper Basic, Bakau Lower Basic, Bakau New Town, Ndow's, Glory Baptise upper Basic, SOS Upper Basic, Gola Fortunate and West African International School - took part in the competition aimed at developing grassroots tennis.

Modou Lamin Sawaneh fondly called ‘Nani’ of Greater Banjul Upper Basic School who emerged second was beaten by two straight set (6-1) and tie break set of (10-8).

Coach Sulayman Jobe, coordinator of the School Initiative Tennis Programme, said the programme was in line with the criteria of the International Tennis Federation.

He said, “The Gambia is one of the sub-regional countries that have a successful School Tennis Initiative Programme and this is why we always have an edge over other countries in international competition in the junior category.”

He commended the Scorpion Fan Club and the Gambia Handball Association for their support throughout the competition.