Lagos International Squash Classics Serves Off With Qualifiers

The qualifiers for the Lagos International Squash Classics serve off on Monday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

  16 players will compete in the two-day qualifiers with four expected to make it to the main draw of the championship.

  Already 12 players have secured automatic places in the main draw based on their world rating while four qualifiers will join them in the main draw scheduled to kick off on Wednesday.

  Players like Nigeria’s Sodiq Taiwo and Wale Amao who will take part in the qualifiers have vowed to make the country proud.

  According to the Chairman, Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA), Sanya Akindele the tournament is a point hauling event with players also jostling for honours in the boys’ U-19 event.

  Also an official from the World Squash Federation (WSF) - Pakistan’s Tahir Khandaza will be in charge of proceedings at the tournament, while the draw for the competition has also been conducted by PSA and WSA. The prize money in men’s category is $25,000 while the women will jostle for the $15,000 prize money at stake.

  The LSSA boss described the listing of the tournament by PSA and WSA as a major stride for the country. “This is a major stride for the development of squash in Nigeria and this is the first time any tournament has been accorded such status. We intend to retain this status by ensuring no stone is left unturned in hosting a memorable tournament,” he said.

  England’s Adrian Grant and Egypt’s Heba El-Torky are the top seeded players in the men and women events.

  Babatunde Ajagbe is the only Nigerian in the main draw of the men event while Nigeria’s quartet of Ajayi Omolola Adebimpe, Ebifemi Taiwo, Okikiola Dunni and Olatunji Yemisi Oluwafunmilayo will spearhead the host nation’s campaign in the women division.

  Among the eight players seeded for the competition, other seeded male players apart from Grant, are Egypt’s Omar Abdel Meguid, Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal, South Africa’s Shaun Le Roux, Egypt’s Karim Ali Fathi, Pakistan’s Farhan Zaman and his compatriot, Danish Atlas Khan as well as Wales’ Peter Creed. The only Nigerian playing from the main draw is Babatunde Ajagbe.