Top-ranked players in the Professional Squash Association (PSA)-sanctioned 3rd Prime Atlantic Squash tournament have secured their spots in the finals.
Rofiat Abdulazeez, the top seed, sealed her place in the finals having defeated top-ranked U-19 star Mosturah Durosinlorun 3-0 in a best-of-three match in the women’s category.
Busayo Olatunji the number two seed gallantly defeated Blessing Isaac the third seed 3-0.
Olatunji and Abdulazeez, the defending champion, will clash in the finals on Saturday, July 20, in the women’s category.
In the men’s category, Gabriel Olufunmilayo showed class as the top seed after beating fourth seed Suliamon Faruq 3-0.
Kehinde Samuel defeated Abel Shedrak 3-1 to berth in the finals, Olufunmilayo, 2023 runner’s up will face Samuel in the finals.
With N5m at stake, Teslim Balogun Stadium will witness the finest squash in the finals.
In one of the semifinals of the U-16 category, Zainab Ishola defeated Leona Iyelih-Omoefe 3-0. Ishola defeated Leona Iyelih-Omoefe, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 to berth in the finals of this year.
Ishola said that the competition had been a successful one and she has been able to showcase herself with her performance.
“It has been an exciting competition, we wish for more competition of this nature which keeps us busy and brings out the best in us.
“Hard work, good body movement, and consistency had given me the edge over my opponent and this is what I intend to use when I play in the final,” Ishola said.
Her opponent, Iyelih-Omoefe said that despite losing in the semifinals she was proud of her achievement in the competition.
“I played against a tougher opponent whose body movement was faster than my own, but despite the loss, I am still proud of myself.
“I want to thank the organisers for allowing us to showcase our talent and prove ourselves,” Iyelih-Omoefe said.
In the other semifinal, Aishat Abdulraheem defeated Loveth Balogun, 11-5, 3-0 in the girls’ U-16 category. Ishola will slug it out with Abdulraheem in the finals.
In the U-16 boys category, Shuaib Giwa secured a win over Friday Daniel 3-1 to qualify for the finals of the competition. Giwa will play Mathew Yusuf who edged out Joshua Daniel by 3-0 in the semifinals.