Fresh from helping Kenya qualify for the Africa Junior tournament during the zonal qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday, Angela Okutoyi has now set her sights on the ITF junior circuit set for Nairobi Club next week.
The Kenya Open champion has fond memories of the last ITF tournament, also held at the Nairobi Club in November, where she beat Aisha Niyonkuru of Burundi 6-1, 6-4 to win the under-14 category.
Okutoyi will spearhead Kenya's charge, who include Rosehilda Asumwa, Alicia Owegi, Kendi Kamunde and Shakira Varese in the girls' category.
In the boys' category, Ryan Randiek, Derrick Ominde, Wycliff Okenye, and Kennedy Musembi will battle for honours in the three-week event.
29 countries are expected for the event including Madagascar, Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tunisia, South Africa, Mauritius, Morocco and Egypt.
Others are Lithuania, Ireland, Slovenia, Nepal, Serbia, India, USA, Germany, France, Ukraine, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Malta, Great Britain, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Okutoyi was bullish about her chances, saying: "I am in good form and am looking forward to the competition as I seek to improve my ranking on the ITF circuit."
She expects tough competition owing to the calibre of nations enlisted, insisting that Kenyan players will have to be at their best.
"We will face stiff competition but I must say that our play has improved and we will do our best,” she added