The quarter-finals of the maiden edition of the week long Chamberlain Squash Open took place today at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.
In action today was Nigeria’s number 1 squash player, Tunde Ajagbe against his compatriot Sodiq Taiwo who is ranked number 2 in the country. Unlike what most people expected, the game wasn’t much of a contest as Tunde dispatched Taiwo in 3 games (3-0) within 30 minutes winning 11-7, 11-3 and 11-3.
Top seed and world no 60, Tom Ford defeated unranked Lanre Abdulrahman by 3-1 in 55mins. Tom initially went two games up winning 11-5, 11-6 but Lanre took the third game by 11-9 in a bid to salvage the game and try to cause an upset. He was however halted in his tracks by Tom who won the 4th game by 11-5. In the end, the English man was pleased to avoid an upset.
World no 117, Mark Broekman also made his way into the semi-finals by defeating Nigeria’s Gabriel Olufunmilayo 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3 (3-1) while Femi Shedara narrowly defeated his Nigerian counterpart, Adegoke Onaopemipo in a keenly contested game 15-13, 11-7, 6-11, 14-16, 11-7 (3-2) to progress in the competition.
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For the women, Nigeria’s number 1 female squash player who is also ranked 193 in the world, Yemisi Olatunji cruised past compatriot, Dunni Okikiola in 3 games (3-0) winning by 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 within a mere 17mins of action. Other women who made it into the semi-finals include: Rofiat Abdulazeez who defeated fellow Nigerian Kafayat Idris 3-0; Dasbak Longdi also defeated fellow Nigerian, Bisi Adeleke 3-0 while Veronica Sunday lost out to Udeme James 1-3.
The semi-finals of the competition will take place tomorrow and we expect more too and quality squash action from the players as they battle for the $12,000 cash prize.
