Friday Odeh Counts Gains of Ex- Pros In Diaspora National Junior Squash Championship, As tournament Ends In Lagos
Chairman, Ex- Pros In- Diaspora, Friday Odeh has described the just concluded sixth edition of the annual ex squash pro in diaspora tournament as a huge success just as he expressed happiness with the massive turnout of players at the weeklong event.
The age grade competition which ran from August, 19 to Saturday, August 23 at the Squash Courts of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos , saw players compete for honours and ranking in the U-11, U-13 and U-16 in both the boys and girls categories
Friday Odeh, a former squash professional player says he is satisfied with growth of the tournament but noted there is still room for improvement
” I’m very happy with what we witnessed this year. Infact, this year has been so spectacular for us and we have so many kids signing up and more states are also coming up which is really good for the development of the game. We have to continue building on the successes recorded and keep on improving in subsequent editions.
” The improvement has been really great and the participants increasing every year which shows that we’re doing something good and we’ll definitely maintain the momentum”, he stressed.
On plans to ensure that more states participate in the championship, he explaines that plans are on of rotating the venue among the states to give a wider reach inorder to enable kids in many states have the opportunity of participants in squash
” The truth of the matter is that we’re thinking of rotating the venue to enable more states participate in the championship. We discovered that some states right now, cannot afford to transport their kids to Lagos and so we’re planning to bring it to their door steps. What this means is that if they cannot come to Lagos, we’ll bring the tournament to them because our goal is to make it bigger and better.
Odeh noted that in the next couple of years, he hopes to see Nigerian players participate at the World championship and be ranked amongst the first fifty in the world.
” I must confess to you that the biggest challenge we’re having in putting this tournament together is local organization back home in the country. We in the Diaspora normally come together to decide what we want to do and how much to contribute which is done seamlessly but back here, trying to get things move smoothly has always been a problem, but we will not be deterred”, he assured
Meanwhile in the finals of the U-16 boys, Friday Daniel defeated other players to emerge winner while Aisha Abdulkareem won the girls category.
In results of finsls of the 6th Edition of Expros In-Diaspora National Junior Boys and Girls Squash Tournament 2025
Susan Balogun dismissed Favour David 3-0 in the U-11 girls category
The under -11 boys event saw Abdulrazak Abdulfatai defeat Abdulsama Animashaun 3-1
Grace Gana triumphed in the U-13 girls with a 3-1 win over Susan Balogun
In boys under 13 cadre it was Mohammed Azim that had the upper hand over David Awe , 3-2 it ended
The U-16 girls title was won by Ahisat Abdulkareem after a 3-2 victory over Zainab Ishola
Friday Chegbe Daniel defeated Mitchael Etuk-Udo 3-2 to win the U-16 boys category
Winners got plaques and squash kits while all participants received goggles and certificate
