Puma pledges continued tennis support
Despite cutting this year’s sponsorship by K3 million, Puma Energy has promised to return next year to bankroll another edition of the Puma Malawi Open Tennis Championship.
Puma Energy managing director, Davies Lanjesi, said they were committed to developing the sport hence pledging continued support.
“However, I cannot confirm how much we will inject next year because of the current economic situation. One thing that is clear though is that we will return next year,” he said.
Lanjesi said Puma donated K1 million to go towards the construction of the country’s first ever national tennis centre at Country Club Limbe to help in the development of the sport.
“We strongly believe Malawi has the capacity to identify and nurture more players who if well supported can play at international level where they can bring a lot of forex,” he said.
This is the sixth year that Puma Energy has been supporting the Malawi championship.
Lawn Tennis Association of Malawi (LTAM) general secretary, Christopher Kachale, said Puma Energy sponsorship has contributed massively to the development of the sport in the country.
“For instance last year we had over 20 international players from Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and DR Congo taking part in the competition. This was as a result of Puma sponsorship,” he said.
During this year’s championship, Italian Egon Tascher beat Malawian James Matewere 6-3 6-1 6-3 to win the men’s section of the championship while Mary Luhanga humbled rival Patricia Matola- Mlomba 7-6 3-6 6-2 to lift the ladies singles.
In men’s doubles , Matewere and Julius Taulo emerged winners through walkover against Wilson Paul and Henry Mtuta.
In ladies doubles, Ivy Chilamwa teamed up with Prisca Maloya to stun Angela Msosa and Matola- Mlomba.
In mixed doubles, Matewere combined forces with Luhanga to beat Chilamwa and Wilson Paul 7-6 6-2.
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