Abdulraham, Olatunji win third PSPAN squash championships

Top seeds, Lanre Abdulraham and Yemisi Olatunji emerged champions of the third National Open Squash Tournament held at the Apapa Club, Lagos.The championships, organised by the Professional Squash Players Association of Nigeria (PSPAN), saw Abdulraham beat third seed, Sodiq Taiwo, 3-2 in the men’s category, while Olatunji defeated Veronica Sunday by 3-0 in the women’s cadre.

By these victories, both Abdulraham and Olatunji were given a cash prize of N100, 000, in addition to the trophies won. Runners up in the men’s and women’s, Taiwo and Sunday, won a cash prize of N75,000.

The third placed players got N50, 000, as the N20,000, N10,000, N5,000, were given to quarter finalists, round of 16 and round of 32 players respectively.

Speaking on her victory, Olatunji said: “Even though I won 3-0 against Veronica, it was not easy breezy because she gave me a good fight.“Playing against my sister in the semi final was so hilarious thing. She is tougher than I thought, she is good I must say and I am proud of her.”

According to the outgoing President of PSPAN, Seun Peters, the partnership of his vice, Amos Haruna and other members of the board made his tenure a hitch-free.

“I would not have been able to host three national open without the support of my vice, Amos and all other members of the board.

“And as another election is at hand, they should allow continuity and give supports to incoming administration after the election,’’ he said

The tournament, which was sponsored by Femi Adeyemo, a PSPAN’s trustee and the chairman of the Apapa Squash sections, witnessed other players from Rivers, Ogun, Plateau, Kwara, Edo, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, FCT Abuja, Kaduna and two academies – Headwaters Academy and Ka-yas Academy from Kaduna.