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Lagos Int’l Squash Classics: Nigerians Start On Winning Note

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Some Nigerian players started their campaign on a good note in the ongoing 2018 Lagos International Squash Classics, which is holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
In the qualifying matches played on Day One of the tournament, Adegoke Onaopemipo beat Alex Noakes from England 3-2  (8-11, 15-13, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2).
Abdulrahaman Yusuf of Nigeria defeated  French Enzo Corigliano 3-0
(12-10,  14-12,11-6).
But the likes of Kehinde Samuel, Sodiq Taiwo and Femi Shedara were not so lucky as they were sent packing in the qualifying matches.
South African Jean-Pierre Brits beat Taiwo 3-2 (11-13,  11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3).. Irish player, Sean Conroy defeated Samuel in a one sided game that ended 3-0
(11-9, 11-3,  11-7).  Shedara on the other hand was beaten by Pakistan’s Abdul Malik Khan 0-3, while America Adrian Leanza  beat Abel Shedrack 3-1 (3-11,  14-12, 11-5, 12-10).
On the other hand, Aadit Zaveri (IND) beat Tiago Goriely (BEL) 3-2
(7-11, 7-11, 15-13, 11-4,  11-4, while Ahmed  Hosny (EGY) beat Jean-Marie Besombi  (CGO) 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-3).
Sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association, PSA, the Classics is sponsored by  the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Sports Commission and  organised  by the Lagos State Squash Association and supported by the Nigeria Squash  Federation (NSF).

No fewer than 14  countries including host, Nigeria are competing  for the $20,000 prize money in the tournament.

Eight players have been seeded in the men’s event while four women including Nigeria’s Ye Olatunji made the seeding list.

The qualifying round will herald the commencement of the championship with players jostling for the four slots available in the main draw of the men and women events.

Babatunde Ajagbe is the only Nigerian starting his campaign from the main draw in the men’s event while Olatunji will lead eight other Nigeria players to start their campaign from the main draw of the  players dominated the eight-man men’s seeding list with Karim Ali Fathi topping the list while Czech Republic’s Eva Fertekova tops the four-man women’s seeding list.

Four qualifiers are expected to break into the main draw from the qualifying round in the men’s category while four will also make it to the women’s division.

The main draws starts on Wednesday.

The world ranking event would afford the players to amass points for their global rating.

The men’s category will share $15,000 while the women will be aiming for the $5000 purse.

Aside top playing nations like France and Egypt, other nations playing in the six-day tournament include England, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland, Iraq, South Africa, Belgium, United States, Pakistan, India and Czech Republic.

The men will share $15,000 while the women will be aiming for the $5000 purse for the tournament.

 

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