Angella Okutoyi: Decision time for Kenya’s tennis star as ITF gives verdict on Olympics appeal

Angella Okutoyi during a match at Alabama-based Auburn University. Photo: Angella Okutoyi X

Angella Okutoyi: Decision time for Kenya’s tennis star as ITF gives verdict on Olympics appeal

Joel Omotto 09:05 - 30.06.2024

Angella Okutoyi is set to learn whether she will feature at Paris Olympics following an appeal by Tennis Kenya early this month.

Kenya’s tennis ace Angella Okutoyi will learn her fate on Monday following an appeal by Tennis Kenya to have her granted an opportunity to participate at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Okutoyi had been in a race against time to ensure she was ranked in the top 400 in the world since winning gold at the African Games in March, which saw her claim one of the four reserved Olympics slots for winners of various continental games.

However, after featuring in a number of tournaments to boost her rankings, she failed to meet the standard by the June 10 deadline but Tennis Kenya lodged an appeal at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to have her considered due to the limited time she had to attain the top 400 world ranking.

Tennis Kenya’s view is that Okutoyi only had two months to seek the qualifying standard instead of eight, due to the postponement of the 2023 Africa Games that took place in March this year.

Decision time is therefore nearing for Okutoyi who has had to wait pensively to learn her fate with the Olympics less than a month away.

“We have to wait and see what happens. At the moment, it is out of our hands and we can only wait for the decision. I hope it's going to be favourable for her and us as a country,” Tennis Kenya Executive Officer Nancy Nduku told The Star.

Okutoyi’s Olympics dream now lies in the hands of the ITF whose governing body will decide on Monday. If she is allowed in, she will become the first Kenyan tennis player to feature at the Olympics.