Princewill wins Lagos Country Club’s Super-Veteran’s squash title

Telema Princewill, of the Port Harcourt Squash Club, outclassed the field to win the Super-Veterans title of the yearly Merchant Express Global Cargo and Turkish Cargo Airlines Closed, Open Invitational Squash Tournament, organised by the Squash Section of Lagos Country Club.

The competition, the 18th in the series, as well as, the fourth PSA squash tournament, which was held over the weekend, also saw winners in other categories.

Spread across two weeks, players from over 14 squash clubs from across the country competed in the men, veterans, and, for the first time, the Super-Veteran category for players above the age of 60.

In the Super-Veteran category, Princewill was victorious with Dr. Kayode Roberts of the Ikoyi Club, Squash Section in second position.

The Veteran’s final, which became the most engaging game during the finals, saw DC Haniel Hadison of Lagos Country Club defeating Clement Efakpokire of Ikoyi Club, while the men’s final had Bunmi Apata retaining the cup for the second year running, defeating Shittu Adeola of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife Squash Club.

The fourth PSA category, which featured over 80 men and women’s professional squash players from across the country, was won by Nigeria’s current number one player, Gabriel Olufunmilayo, winning the trophy, while former number one, Onaopemipo Adegoke, came second.

In the women’s final, Busayo Olatunji defeated the country’s number-one star, Rofiat Abdulazeez, to take the title.

Apart from cash prizes, the tournament points also increased the players’ global ratings.

Speaking at the end of the tournament, Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express Cargo Services, Captain Shina Akinfenwa, commended the sportsmanship among the players, noting that the standard of the game has improved over the years.

Also speaking on the tournament, the Chairman of the Squash Section, Lagos Country Club, ‘Semoore Badejo, expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout for the event, and members’ obvious enthusiasm towards the game of squash.

He thanked the sponsors, Merchant Express Global Cargo and Turkish Cargo Airlines, for supporting the growth of the game, by sponsoring the tournament for the past 19 years.

He noted the inclusion of the additional category, supported by the sponsors, the Super-Veteran category, saying that it encouraged more participation from the squash community all over the country.