Sports
Chamberlain Open Squash: How Briton, Nigerian female share spoils at grand finale
- Winner got a mouth watering $12,000 prize award
By Ediale Kingsley
Tom Ford from England emerged grand winner of the Chamberlain Squash Open. The final of the Squash competition which took place yesterday evening at the Squash section of the Lagos Country Club in Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria, had an exhibition game between one of Nollywood’s finest, Ramsey Nouah and Lagos CP, Fatai Owoseni.
The final of the men’s category was between the Briton and Nigeria’s Babatunde Ajagbe.
While Nigeria’s number one female squash player, Yetunde Olatunji slugged it out with Udeme James in the final of the women’s category.
For the men’s category, Ford cruised into the final after dispatching Femi Shedara 11-3, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7 in 44 minutes while in the second match, Nigeria number one Babatunde Ajagbe easily dismissed another Briton, Mark Broekman in straight set, 11-6, 11-9, and 11-9 to set up the epic final with Tom Ford who, before the game, expressed confident during an interview with National Daily that he would win the tournament.
Yemisi Olatunji Is Women’s Champion:
Nigeria’s number one female Squash player, Yemisi Olatunji won the women’s category.
Yemisi who is the number one seed for the competition in women’s category, defeated Udeme James 11-7, 11-6 and 11-9 (3-0) to win the maiden edition of the competition.
The world number 193 smiled home with the two hundred thousand (N200,000) cash prize while Udeme James goes home with one hundred and fifty thousand (N150,000) as the first runner up for the women’s category.
Speaking with National Daily after her victory, Olatunji said: “I came into the competition hoping to win all my matches, not only did I achieve this but I also won the competition.
“I want to thank God, my family and my fans for the support”, she said.
National Daily had a chat with the organizer of the Squash Open, Chamberlain Usoh, “I am passionately devoted to the development, organization and promotion of Squash in Nigeria. And I am using the Chamberlain Squash Open as an upshot of CSE to promote and develop the sport amongst young people and bring up a new generation of players that will represent the country at National and International stage”.
Chamberlain says the tournament welcomes international and national players, “CSO is a great chance for players to compete against international opponents and increase their national ranking. CSO brings over one hundred players, parents and spectators to Lagos, increasing tourism for the local community, thus a favourable aspect of hosting an CSO”.
When National Daily asked about the vision he said, “Our vision is to enhance the national consciousness of squash through systematic development and promotion at sub-national and national levels to foster cohesion, enhance health fitness, and promote friendship within the squash community”.
So why is a citizen, doing
Chamberlain says he wants to lend his quota to the development of the sport through systematic promotion at the grassroots.
It is also his plan to promote the development of the game of squash amongst young people and he hopes to do so by bringing up a crop of new generation of players that will represent the country at National and International stage. This will help in contributing positively to Squash in Nigeria, thereby placing Nigeria Squash on the World map.
Identifying talent and foster competitive spirit amongst the players irrespective of age or gender.
In the light of the campaign to include squash in the 2024 Olympic Games, this tournament offer Nigeria an opportunity to groom young players for the games and other international opens.
Also a number of Nigeria squash players are in PSA World ranking but they are relatively unknown in the country, this tournament serve as an avenue for them to be supported, as we strive to be in the World’s top 50.
Speaking at the event, Owoseni hailed the promoter of the competition, Chamberlain Usoh, for organising the event, which he described as “a beautiful and excellent initiative worthy of support.”
Owoseni said, “If Chamberlain, who is not extremely rich, can put together this, then it should be supported because the more you keep people out with meaningful engagements like this, the more you keep them out of crime.
“When the youths see the prizes to be won, they will want to be involved in the competition. This is a good event that has attracted local and foreign players.