By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Tomi Falase, Chairman of the Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA), has said the 4th Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament marks a defining moment for youth development.
Falase said that competition has consistently provided a platform for players to showcase talent and attract attention from state coaches.
He said the tournament followed the recent National Sports Festival in Ogun, where Team Lagos delivered an impressive and commanding performance across events.
“We want to keep players active, focused on training, and committed to improving their skills,” Falase said.
He added that more corporate bodies should support their agenda and sponsor tournaments to develop players capable of competing on the world stage.
Similarly, Yusuf Durosinolorun, the Technical Director of LSSA praised the organisers for sponsoring the 4th edition of the tournament once again.
He noted that the competition allows young players to demonstrate their skills and express their natural, God-given talent in front of coaches and spectators.
He said matches on day one highlighted the players’ quality and showed they only need a little more push to compete internationally.
Desmond Iguodala of Edo defeated Lagos’ Timilehin Oladapo 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (3-0) to reach the round of 32.
Promise James also progressed after beating Peter Adeleke 11-4, 11-9, 11-1 (3-0) in a dominant display of skill and composure.
Nasiru Abdulrahman fought hard to beat Wisdom Nzei 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 2-11, 11-9 (3-2) in a closely contested match.
At U-19 level, Lanre Yusuf overpowered Devine Nworah 11-5, 12-10, 12-10 (3-0) to comfortably reach the next round.
Yusuf Babalola defeated Richard Ejiro 12-10, 11-9, 12-10 in a thrilling game to also book a spot in the next round.
Iguodala expressed happiness to be part of the tournament and said he was excited about his upcoming matches.
He said the tournament was helpful for maintaining form, staying active, and preparing mentally for future, more competitive championships.
However, Devine Nworah, who lost his first U-19 match, admitted disappointment with his performance and said he needs to work harder.
“It was a tough match. My opponent dominated early and took advantage of my weaknesses,” Nworah said.
“But I’m not discouraged. I love this game and just need to train harder to produce better results next time,” he said.
The Prime Atlantic Squash Championship started on June 9 and ends on June 14 at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
