The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium will be ignited on Wednesday as some of the world’s top players including Nigeria’s national stars begin hostilities at the Lagos International Squash Classics.
According to the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the Lagos Sports Classics, four countries including Nigeria are expected to take part in the four-day $40,000 prize money championship.
Already, Zambia national team and one of England’s top stars, Adrian Grant have confirmed their participation while Jonathan Peters will lead the home team to the competition.
Zambia, a joint bronze medalist with Nigeria at the 2003 All Africa Games in Abuja will have a four-man team made up of two males and two females taking part in the championship.
The Southern African team will also contend with former world’s top 10 rated player, England’s Grant who just competed at the Qatar Open before heading to Nigeria for the classics.
Meanwhile, one of Nigeria’s top rated player, Kally Yasim has been given a wildcard to be part of the tournament.
The Nigerian players that will jostle for honours with their foreign counterparts are Peters, Endurance Omosan, Idowu Enimakure, Tunde Ajagbe, Gbenga Adeyi, Wale Amao, Jerry Ojodioffo and Taiwo Sadiq for the men’s event.
Aside Yasim, other top female players that will represent Nigeria at the classics are Joy Ugbememe, Kafayat Idris, Udeme James and Ebifemi Taiwo.
In the U-19 event, Edward Bethel, who emerged the winner in the qualifiers will square up with the likes of Temiloluwa Adegoke, Musa Abubakar, Ayomide O., Olanrewaju Pratt, Precious Fada, Oladele Pratt and Onapemipo Adegoke for the top prize.
For the Chairman, MOC, Wahid Oshodi, the state is set for the competition as the fish bowl court expected to be used for the tournament has been set up while all arrangement have been concluded for a successful championship.
Lagos State Squash Association, Sanya Akindele, said the efforts being made by the Lagos State government to revive the fortunes of the game in the country must be lauded.
“This laudable initiative by the Lagos State government will give the local players an opportunity to compete against international players which can only give them further exposure and improve their game. There is a general excitement in the squash community on this tournament generally
0 comments:
Speak up your mind
Tell us what you're thinking... !