Okutoyi calls for better qualification route after Olympics miss
Double African Tennis Champion Angela Okutoyi has bemoaned the limited qualification opportunities available to African players trying to make it to the Olympics.
In a statement on her social media handles, the 2022 Wimbledon Doubles junior champion lamented the missed chance to represent Kenya at the Paris Olympics as world rankings locked her out of the Summer Games.
Okutoyi's Olympic dream
Okutoyi, currently ranked 495 in the Women's Tennis Association standings needed to get in the top 400 by June 10, 2024, to qualify for the Olympics.
“Writing this with mixed emotions, but first l thank God for always being here with me. It’s been tough even to reach where l am now and one of my many ultimate goals was to see myself playing at the Olympics. l was really setting my eyes on this one after missing Tokyo, read part of her statement.
"I’ve always wanted and dreamt of representing Kenya at the highest level in tennis and just changing the narrative of tennis in Kenya and Africa too.”
The African Champion cited the limited avenues available to African players trying to qualify for the global showpiece, suggesting that a continental win should act as a direct ticket to the games.
“Didn’t meet the 400 mark for the qualification but my ranking stands at 495. My prayer is in the near future that a continental win should be a direct ticket cause it’s not easy playing the best of your continent and considering Africa we don’t have many opportunities too,” Okutoyi continued.
The 20-year-old however is keen on putting the disappointment behind her as she focuses on the journey to the next Olympics.
“This one hurts but I’m going to stay strong and look forward to greater things that l have faith are waiting for me. Will work hard to see myself in the next Olympics, was close this time but felt far!” She added.
Okutoyi did not win any points at the Africa Games in Accra, Ghana earlier in March on the condition that the African Games are not sanctioned by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
Her heroics at the W15 Monastir doubles in Tunisia where she collected the maximum points (15) on offer saw her climb 49 slots to rank 495 back in May.
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