Lagos Squash Classics: Tinubu gives U-19 champions scholarship

Taiwo Adelu

Champions in the U-19 school category of the just concluded Lagos International Squash Classics-Closed Satellite Championship in both boys and girls’ events will enjoy one year scholarship award courtesy of the Senior Special Adviser on Sports to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Deji Tinubu.

Busayo Olatunji won the girls’ category after beating Idowu Ogunyemi 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-1) in the final decided at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at the weekend, while Temilolu Adegoke defeated Michael John 11-8, 5-11, 11-1, 12-10 in the final.

Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, LSSC, commended the performance of both Olatunji and Adegoke. Apart from the gifts given to the winners, he personally gave the two players one year scholarship awards that will take care of all their school expenses in the next academic session, which include school fees and other sundry financial commitments.

“This gesture is to encourage the talents in these players for them to know that there is always reward for hard work,” said Tinubu, who promised that the Commission will not relent in its effort to develop sports from the grassroots.

Apart from the scholarship awards given to the winners, he also announced that the Lagos State Sports Commission will discuss with the board of Lagos State Squash Association led by Mr. Sanya Akindele on how to kick-start an U-19 Squash League very soon.

“This will be a better platform for us to discover more players in this age group for Lagos State, and more importantly to develop the talent of these youngsters in Squash.

“This administration will support the talents of our young athletes for them to fully develop their potentials not for their own benefits now and in the future, but also for the state as a whole.

“We also want to use sports to sell Lagos State to the whole world and for us to achieve this, the Commission will provide the enabling environment for our athletes to attain success in their career,” said Tinubu, a former board member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Meanwhile, in a match that lasted 26 minutes, Yemisi Olatunji proved her superiority over Veronica Sunday once again in the final of the women’s category. Olatunji, who is planning a trip to South Africa next month for an international squash championship, beat Sunday 14-12, 11-4, 11-1, while Wale Amoo defeated Lanre Abdulrahman 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 in the men’s final that lasted 48 minutes.