Men’s World Squash Team Championship Trials: 22 players battle for slots
Twenty-two male Squash players are taking part in the competition as they battle for qualification slot at the ongoing Men’s World Squash Team Championship trials set for 1st-8th September to take place at the Squash Court Package B, National Stadium, Abuja.
All the twenty-two male players from eight states in the country arrived Abuja yesterday ahead of the National trials which are a preparation competition for the World Squash team championship staging in Washington DC later this year.
The eight states participating at the event in Abuja include; Rivers, Lagos, Abuja, Niger, Kwara, Edo, Kaduna, and Delta. The competition is said to be played in a round-robin format with players divided into two groups of 11 each as two games will be played every day before the selection of four players from each group making it a total of eight players that will then go and represent the country later this year.
Chairman Lagos State Squash Association, Tomi Falase spoke about the level of preparation and also urged them to do their best. He also said that the trials are meant to keep the players on their toes and also said more PSA closed satellite competitions will be staged later in the year.
“The more games the more exposure, the more experience, the more developments for the players. This trial is for the federation to select the best players who will then represent Nigeria at the Men’s World Squash tournament in Washington Dc” he said.
Meanwhile, the maiden Captain Awobokun Squash Senior Open PSA tournament was held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos where Nigeria’s number one, Yemisi Olatunji emerged winner of the women’s category after beating her sister Busayo Olatunji 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7 to take home $130 while Busayo took away the sum of $90.
For the men’s side, Onaopemipo Adegoke came from a 1-0 setback to defeat Idowu Enimakure after he retired to Onaopemipo in 11-8, 5-11, 10-12, Rtd (3-1) to cart home $250 while Idowu went home with $180.
The president of the Nigeria Squash Federation, Boye Oyerinde gave assurance of a good outing in Abuja and also said the players are fully prepared and definitely wishes them all the best.