Young Bahamian tennis talent, Leila O’Brien, is making strides in the sport with determination and skill. A financial contribution from Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (CWCO) recently assisted her with attending a prestigious tennis academy in Florida where she competed in several tournaments, placing second in one.
Henderson Cash, General Manager of CWCO, said, “Consolidated Water remains committed to supporting Bahamian youth and is honoured to play a role in Leila’s inspiring journey. Her achievements not only highlight her talent but also underscore the importance of investing in young athletes who represent The Bahamas on the global stage.”
Reflecting on her week at the academy, Leila shared, “I made it to the finals of one of the tournaments and came back with a second-place trophy in Juniors. The opportunity allowed me to continue improving my Tennis IQ, play against competitors at various levels, and get more match play experience. For this, I am very grateful to Consolidated Water.”
CWCO’s contribution helped cover the cost of her academy stay, tournament fees, and travel expenses.
Leila’s tennis journey began when she picked up a racket at just four years old. While her initial interest in the sport was casual, her passion grew over time.
She said, “When I was younger, I didn’t really like tennis, believe it or not. Despite this, I continued to train recreationally with different coaches and never gave it up. Over the years, my fire for this sport grew.”
Today, Leila’s primary goal is to play at the collegiate level, and she is already in discussions with several universities that have offered her spots on their tennis teams for Fall 2025. Her aspirations go beyond college as she hopes to see how far she can excel in the sport.
Leila added, “Thank you so much to CWCO for allowing me another opportunity to further my skills in this game. These types of financial support for athletes are absolutely necessary in The Bahamas, where we don’t have the same options for continuous training, conditioning, and travel that larger countries do.
“Tennis also has a smaller pool of athletes in The Bahamas, so it is even more important to publicly thank companies like CWCO that acknowledge and support sports outside of the mainstream.”
She encourages others by saying, “As an athlete, what matters most is not when or how you start, but how you finish and the work you put in along the way. It is also so important that you don’t allow your mind or people to limit how far you can go.”
