Sports
DC Haniel Hadison emerges the winner of Veteran’s final in Squash Tourney at Lagos Country Club
The Squash Section, Lagos Country Club over the weekend, held its 18th Annual Merchant Express Global Cargo and Turkish Cargo Airlines Closed, Open Invitational and 4th PSA Squash Tournament where winners emerged in various categories.
From left: Captain of the Squash Section, Lagos Country Club, Dr. Niyi Ibrahim,
Chairman of the Section, Sir ‘Semoore Badejo, Mr. Seyi Adewunmi, presenting an Appreciation memorabilia to
Captain Shina Akinfenwa, Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express, Mr. Kingsley Nwokoma and
Captain Caulkrick, Deputy Managing Director, Merchant Express.
The tournament, spreading accross a period of two weeks, saw players from over fourteen Squash playing Clubs accross the country competing in different categories; Men, Veteran and, for the first time, the Super-Veteran category for players above the age of 60.
From left: Chairman, Squash Section, Lagos Country Club, Sir ‘Semoore Badejo, Alhaji Yussuf Durosinlorun, representative of Nigeria Squash Federation, DC Haniel Hadison, winner of the Squash Veteran’ s final, Captain Shina Akinfenwa, Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express, Sir Ladi Smith, a Patron of Squash Section, LCC and the Captain of the Squash Section, Dr. Niyi Ibrahim.
In the Super-Veteran category, Telema Princewill of the Port Harcourt Squash Club won with Dr. Kayode Roberts of the Ikoyi Club, Squash Section became the runner-up.
The Veteran’s final, which became the most engaging game during the finals saw DC Haniel Hadison of Lagos Country Club defeating Clement Efakpokire of Ikoyi Club, while the Men’s final had Bunmi Apata retaining the cup as the winner both in the last year’s edition and the just concluded edition, defeating Shittu Adeola of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife Squash Club.
From left: Captain of the Squash Section LCC, Dr. Niyi Ibrahim, Telema Princewill of the Port Harcourt Squash Club, winner of the Squash Super-Veteran’s final, Captain Shina Akinfenwa, Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express and
Chairman, Squash Section, Lagos Country Club, Sir ‘Semoore Badejo.
The 4th PSA category which had over 80 professional Squash players from across the Country participating in the tournament both male and female had Nigeria’s current Number One Squash player, Gabriel Olufunmilayo winning the Trophy while former number one, Onaopemipo Adegoke was defeated. Busayo Olatunji won in the female category by defeating Nigeria’s number one, Rofiat Abdulazeez. Apart from the cash prizes won, the PSA Tournament also increases the global ratings of participating professional players.
From left: Captain of the Squash Section, Dr. Niyi Ibrahim, Captain Caulkrick, Deputy Managing Director, Merchant Express Cargo Services, Mr Seyi Adewunmi,
winner of the 4th PSA Squash Tournament, Male Category, Gabriel Olufunmilayo, Captain Shina Akinfenwa, Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express Cargo Services, Mr. Kingsley Nwokoma and Chairman, Squash Section,
Lagos Country Club ‘Semoore Badejo.
In his remark, the Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express Cargo Services, Captain Shina Akinfenwa commended the high spirit of Sportsmanship amongst the playing members and noted improvement on the standard of the game over the years. He looks foward to raising the bar in subsequent tournaments.
From left: Chairman, Squash Section, Lagos Country Club, Sir ‘Semoore Badejo, Mr. Kingsley NwokomaIbrahim, winner of the 4th PSA Squash Tournament, Female Category, Busayo Olatunji, Vice Chairman of Swimming Section, LCC, Mr Demola Ogunlesi, Captain Shina Akinfenwa, Chairman/Managing Director of Merchant Express and the Captain of the Squash Section, Dr. Niyi Ibrahim.
Sir ‘Semoore Badejo, the Chairman of Squash Section, Lagos Country Club, expressed satisfaction on the massive turnout for the event and members’ obvious enthusiasm towards the game of Squash. He thanked the Sponsors, Merchant Express Global Cargo and Turkish Cargo Airlines for supporting the growth of the game of Squash being the 19th year the organization has been sponsoring this event. He noted the inclusion of the additional Category, expressly supported by the Sponsors; the Super-Veteran category, which encouraged more participation from the Squash community all over the country. He thanked the Sponsors and promised a better tournament next year.