•Okutoyi will have Zimbabwe-based Melissa Mwakha, Cynthia Cheruto, and Stacy Yego for the company in the girls' category for the continental extravaganza.
•In the boys' category, Changawa will lead Team Kenya's charge alongside Albert Njogu, Ibrahim Yego and Kevin Cheruiyot.
The 2022 Wimbledon double junior champion Angela Okutoyi and Ismael Changawa will spearhead Kenya's quest for medals at the Africa Games in Accra, Ghana next month.
Okutoyi, a two-time Kenya Open champion and student at Auburn University USA, will be hoping to win the gold and qualify for the Paris Olympics in August.
Okutoyi will have Zimbabwe-based Melissa Mwakha, Cynthia Cheruto, and Stacy Yego for the company in the girls' category for the continental extravaganza.
In the boys' category, Changawa will lead Team Kenya's charge alongside Albert Njogu, Ibrahim Yego and Kevin Cheruiyot.
Former tennis player Francis Rogoi will coach the ladies' team while George Oyoo will handle the boy's side.
The contingent will head to the residential camp on Sunday at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani, and depart on March 10 for the Africa Games. The tennis competition will start on March 16.
Speaking Thursday, Oyoo said they will train at the Peponi School to adapt to the hard-court surface that will be in use in Ghana.
“We have been training at Nairobi Club for the past two months on claycourt but from Sunday, we will change to a hard court surface at Pepioni as Kasarani does not have tennis courts. I believe both boys and girls will adapt easily to the courts,” said Oyoo.
Changawa is optimistic about Kenya's chances. "We have had a solid preparation phase and playing in the Davis Cup last year has given us a good foundation for the Africa Games," said Changawa.
Changawa played in the Davis Cup Group IV tournament in Kigali, Rwanda last year where Kenya finished third as well as won the Uganda Open in Kampala in November
In the women's category, Rogoi was bullish about Kenya's chances. “ The players are in good form. Okutoyi has been playing at a high level in the Collegiate circuit in the USA; Melissa just recently won the Maputo tournament while Stacy and Cynthia have improved so much. I like our chances heading to Accra,” observed Rogoi.
Aside from the individual events, there will be a team category where depending on how the players perform in the singles category according to Rogoi.
“The team title will be important as there will be medals to be won based on how we perform in the singles category," he added.
Team Kenya failed to medal at the last Africa Games in Rabat in 2019 with Egypt taking the top honours.