Okutoyi shifts focus to Billie Jean King Cup after World University Games heroics

Okutoyi, alongside partner Kael Shah, made history on Friday by becoming the first Kenyans to medal in the mixed doubles final at the global university sporting showpiece.

The duo’s impressive run ended with a silver finish, a result Okutoyi describes as a proud moment for Kenya and Africa.

“Grabbing a silver, especially for Africa, is not a bad thing. I’m thankful to the other African countries that rallied behind us. It showed that even though we were competing, we were one,” she said.

The Auburn University student-athlete, a two-time African Games champion, also had a strong singles campaign, reaching the Round of 16 before bowing out to India’s Vaishnavi Adkar 6-3, 6-4.

She credited her medal success to the chemistry with her partner and the tournament’s professionalism.

“I feel like the organization was good and us partnering in my first mixed doubles, and from the first match we actually enjoyed ourselves and that really made a difference for us. The tournament was well organized, and they took care of us,” Okutoyi noted.

This silver medal boosts Okutoyi’s morale ahead of her next challenge, representing Kenya at the Billie Jean King Cup in Namibia from August 4–11.

“I’ve gained a lot of experience and improved through these tournaments. Now, my focus is on moving my ranking up,” she said.

The performance also reinforces Kenya’s growing footprint in African tennis, spotlighting the potential of young talent on global stages.

For Okutoyi, the win is both a personal milestone and an inspiration for the next generation of African tennis players.

As she heads to Namibia, all eyes will be on whether Okutoyi can turn her silver success into even bigger triumphs, proving that Kenya’s place in world tennis is no longer a dream but an emerging reality.