Tennis sensation Angela Okutoyi sets sight on 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Just days after becoming the first Kenyan woman to play at the Australian Open and the first Kenyan woman to win a Grandslam match, tennis prodigy Angella Okutoyi has dared to dream even bigger as she set her sights on achieving qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games that are set to be held in Paris, France.

Speaking after jetting back to the country after her recent heroics at the Australian Open Junior Championship, the African Junior U18 champion revealed her big plans during an event at the Nairobi Club where she was welcomed by Kenyan tennis legend Paul Wekesa who won three doubles titles, achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 100 and reached two tour-level quarterfinals at Auckland in 1989 and Seoul in 1995.

"I look forward to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. I have learnt to have a strong mentality by playing at the Australian Open,” a confident Okutoyi remarked.

On his part, Wekesa praised Okutoyi for her achievements as he called on the tennis ace to maintain the discipline that enabled her to get to playing in a Grandslam tournament for the first time in her career.

“It is a fantastic feeling to have a world class player and I know you are going to be a good role model to the young ones. This is just the beginning and the most important thing is to keep the discipline and diligence and to enjoy the moment as well,” Wekesa said.

At the Australian Open, Okutoyi sailed past Federica Urgesi and Zara Larke in the opening two rounds respectively but her fairytale run at the tournament was brought to an end in round 3 following her straight set loss to Serbian Lola Radivojevic.

Her win against Urgesi was historic as she became the first Kenyan girl to record a Junior Grand Slam match-win, and went on to double the number of wins in the subsequent round, being tossed out just one match away from the quarters.

Okutoyi eyeing French Open after Australia heroics