Zambia Listed For Lagos International Swimming Classics

Zambia is the latest team to confirm its participation in the Lagos International Squash Classics holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

 According to the tournament director, Wasiu Sanni, 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 male and two female taking part in the championship.

  The Southern African team will join former world’s top 10 rated player, England’s Adrian Grant who had already signed up for the Lagos Classics, which will kick off on Wednesday November 13 to 16.

With the conclusion of the qualifiers on Sunday, Sanni also listed the Nigerian players that will join the foreigners in the $40,000 prize money championship.

  In the men’s event, Nigeria top seeded players, Jonathan Peters will lead the home team and Endurance Omosan, Idowu Enimakure, Tunde Ajagbe, Gbenga Adeyi, Wale Amao, Jerry Ojodioffo and Taiwo Sadiq will join him.

The four female will represent Nigeria at the classics are Joy Ugbememe, Kafayat Idris, Udeme James and Ebifemi Taiwo.

Eight players have also been confirmed for the main event in the U-19 category at the end of the qualifiers. They are – Edward Bethel, who emerged the winner. Others are Temiloluwa Adegoke, Musa Abubakar, Ayomide O., Olanrewaju Pratt, Precious Fada, Oladele Pratt and Onapemipo Adegoke.

Meanwhile, referee-training course to be handled by director of the referees’ committee of World Squash Federation (WSF), Rod Symington will begin today, as part of the organisers’ efforts to update the officials expected to handle proceedings at the tournament.

Also, Chairman of the Lagos State Squash Association, Sanya Akindele, commended the Lagos State Government for its efforts to revive the fortunes of the game in the country.  

He added: “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.”