The number one ranked male and female players in the country, Onaopemipo Adegoke and Rophiat Abudulazeez, on Thursday won the top prizes at maiden edition of the Bolatito Adeyemo Squash Classics.
Adegoke defeated Gabriel Olufunmilayo 3-2 to clinch the trophy and N130,000 cash prize, while Abudulazeez defeated Mistura Durosinlorun 3-1 in the women’s category, winning N100,000.
Durosinlorun took N60, 000 home, while Jadesola Olatunji and Blessing Isaac went home with N30, 000 each.
Abudulazeez had defeated Olatunji 3-0 to be at the finals, while Adegoke defeated Kehinde Samuel by 3-0 to advance into the finals.
Adegoke, who recently won his first Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament, said training hard and having played in highly competitive tournaments in recent time helped to keep him in form.
“I train very hard and the result is evident, I hope to maintain this level of discipline and play as many tournaments as possible. As a player, it’s important to test one’s skills. This can only be done through regular competitions.
“After each tournament either I win or lose I go back to see what I did wrong and what I can improve on.
“Winning my first PSA title in Namibia was a dream come true, there was minus zero support from the audience but with God’s grace and a healthy mental strength I was able to keep it together,” he said.
On her part, Abudulazeez said she played in the tournament in spite of the fatigue experienced after the PSA tournament in Namibia.
“My trip to Namibia really got me tired but we can’t just ignore this tournament. My game in Namibia also helped but I’m really fagged out.
“Mistura is a tough player, I’d give it to her. I’m glad I won. I look forward to other tournaments,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Bolatito Adeyemo maiden squash tournament served-off Sept. 27 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The tournament ended on Thursday with eight male and eight female top seeded players playing three games in a round robin format.
The prize money for the men’s category was N130,000 and the winner of the the second position went home with N80,000. The third and fourth place winners went home with N40,000 and N20,000 respectively.
