Tennis Kenya is turning international recognition into a broader push for women’s leadership in sport, while celebrating another milestone in its junior development pathway with Bathsheba Abicha Ogamba’s qualification for the African 14 & Under Masters in Morocco.
The federation will on October 23 launch BOLD CALLS – Women in Officiating Leadership Forum, bringing together 40 female technical officials in Nairobi as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening women’s participation and progression in sports officiating.
The forum follows Tennis Kenya’s recognition through the World Tennis Advantage All Award for its work advancing women and girls in tennis.
The federation has committed the award’s USD 4,000 prize money to developing women technical officials, extending the initiative beyond tennis.
Twenty-five tennis officials and 15 national and international officials from other sports will attend the invitation-only forum.
While technical officials receive sport-specific training and certification, BOLD CALLS will focus on leadership and personal development, including confidence and authority, communication, decision-making under pressure, resilience, handling difficult situations and career progression.
International leadership coaching, discussions with senior officials and panels featuring leading Kenyan women technical officials will form part of the programme. Among the international contributors will be Eva Asderaki-Moore, who served as chair umpire for the 2026 Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final. She will join participants virtually.
Tennis Kenya also plans to establish mentorship circles and stronger networks to help women officials navigate challenges, access opportunities and gain greater visibility as they pursue higher levels of officiating.
The Nairobi forum will also feature a Women in Sport Legacy Celebration, recognising female technical officials who have represented Kenya internationally, alongside women who have represented Kenyan tennis at the Billie Jean King Cup and All African Games.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s junior tennis pathway has received a boost with Bathsheba Abicha Ogamba qualifying for the 17th African 14 & Under Masters, which served off in Mohammedia, Morocco, on September 15.
Bathsheba is Kenya’s sole representative among eight girls selected for the Grade A continental singles event. The field also includes players from Morocco, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
Her selection follows a season of international exposure, including Tennis Kenya’s 14 & Under development tour to France in July, where the Kenyan team trained and competed through the federation’s growing partnership with French tennis.
Bathsheba follows in the footsteps of African Games champion Angella Okutoyi, who also progressed through the African Masters pathway before making history for Kenya on the international stage as the first Kenyan to win Africa Under-18, Wimbledon Junior Doubles, W15 and W35.
The five-day Masters will use a pool format, giving Bathsheba the opportunity to test herself against some of Africa’s leading players in her age group.
Her progression, alongside the BOLD CALLS initiative, reflects Tennis Kenya’s efforts to build pathways that create opportunities for women both on the court and in leadership roles around it.
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