Participants in the maiden edition of Lagos
State International Squash Classics drawn from across Africa will today
go home with $40,000 prize money as the competition ends today.
The competition, which is part of efforts of the Lagos State Government to empower youths through sports drew participants from South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Congo and Nigeria and was in three categories of men, women and under 19.
A total of $22, 500 will go to all the participants in the men category, $12, 000 goes to every participant in the women category while the under 19 category gets $5000 which is also to go round every participant.
Speaking with THISDAY during the semi-finals yesterday at the Rowe Park, Yaba venue of the event, the Tournament Director and member of the Lagos State Squash Association, Mr. Boye Oyerinde described the squash competition as "a laudable initiative by the Lagos State Government." He said with the international standard and dimensions to the competition, Nigerian youths stand a lot to benefit especially in the area of international exposure to the game.
Also speaking, a member of the association, Mr. Wunmi Ogunbiyi said the idea behind the competition was to promote the game of squash, make the youngsters realise that the game is not expensive to play, keep them busy and fit and also, to create international recognition for Nigeria among the squashing nations in the world.
But more than that she said the idea has compelled some of the under 19 participants to return to school, "because some of them are orphans and no longer attending schools, so a criteria for participating is that they must enrol in schools and we are educating some of them."
The competition, which is part of efforts of the Lagos State Government to empower youths through sports drew participants from South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Congo and Nigeria and was in three categories of men, women and under 19.
A total of $22, 500 will go to all the participants in the men category, $12, 000 goes to every participant in the women category while the under 19 category gets $5000 which is also to go round every participant.
Speaking with THISDAY during the semi-finals yesterday at the Rowe Park, Yaba venue of the event, the Tournament Director and member of the Lagos State Squash Association, Mr. Boye Oyerinde described the squash competition as "a laudable initiative by the Lagos State Government." He said with the international standard and dimensions to the competition, Nigerian youths stand a lot to benefit especially in the area of international exposure to the game.
Also speaking, a member of the association, Mr. Wunmi Ogunbiyi said the idea behind the competition was to promote the game of squash, make the youngsters realise that the game is not expensive to play, keep them busy and fit and also, to create international recognition for Nigeria among the squashing nations in the world.
But more than that she said the idea has compelled some of the under 19 participants to return to school, "because some of them are orphans and no longer attending schools, so a criteria for participating is that they must enrol in schools and we are educating some of them."
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