Squash: Equal Prize Money Confirmed For 2017 Allam British Open

Female players will earn the same prize money as their male counterparts for the first time in the history of the prestigious Allam British Open when the 2017 iteration of squash's oldest and most established tournament gets underway next March.

Taking place at the Airco Arena, Hull from March 19-26 the iconic 'Wimbledon of Squash', which in 2017 will be co-promoted between England Squash and the Professional Squash Association, will bring together over 120 of the best male and female players from around the world to compete for the sought after title - which has been contested since the 1920s.

The move to equal prize money, with $150,000 on offer in both the men's and women's draws, sees the Allam British Open become the first major British squash tournament ever to offer financial parity to competitors. While it becomes the fourth tournament on the PSA World Series, after the U.S. Open (2013) Windy City Open (2015) and Tournament of Champions (2016) to reach parity.

“Squash is one of only a few sports in which women and men compete in the same event at the same time, under the same rules, scoring system and size of playing surface,” said England Squash CEO Keir Worth.

"We’re extremely proud that the 2017 Allam British Open is going to be a showcase for equality in sport as well as for world class squash.”

Professional Squash Association Chief Executive Alex Gough said; "Across the PSA Word Tour we have made great strides towards increasing gender equality since integrating the Women's Tour in 2015 and today's announcement further underlines our commitment to achieving parity.

"Since the U.S. Open became the first major PSA World Series tournament to achieve parity in 2013 we have been steadily working towards levelling the playing field between men and women. To see the British Open join the U.S. Open, Windy City Open, Tournament of Champions and PSA World Series Finals in offering equal prize money is a great moment for the sport.

"With the 2017 Men's and Women's World Championships, taking place in Manchester In December 2017, also committing to equal prize money we hope these steps will also demonstrate to young girls and aspiring players who want a career in sport that squash offers a genuine opportunity to compete and earn on a level playing field with men."

Steve Forster commented: “On behalf of Dr Allam and the Allam family, we are honoured to continue our sponsorship of the event and we are proud that our legacy of the event is that men and women will be rewarded equally. Dr Allam believes that this sets the bar for other tournaments around the world.”

The 2017 Allam British Open will take place at the Airco Arena, Hull from March 19-26. Ticket details will be confirmed in January via englandsquash.com and psaworldtour.com

Sodiq Taiwo wins 2016 Apapa Squash League end of the year Tournament

Sodiq Taiwo left,  versus Idowu  Enimakure right;  Sodiq won with a 3-2 majors
Sodiq popularly known as the Iron Man won through a needle eye
Below is Idowu's remark on the game:
I don't bye Ashour's excuses whenever he retires in a tournament by injury not until it hapened to me this night , I forcefully retired because I couldn't continue, the Iron man (Sodiq) was leadin 2-0 I caught up with him 2-2 But couldn't continue when he was leading 6-love, I cried & felt for myself because this is my frst final of the year 2016; have been nursing this injury for like 4 to 5 Months now, Kudos to the champion of tonight..thanks to those that talked behind me that it was because I womanize was why I couldn't play a single final til the year round up..somtimes u don't know what some people feels in their life not until you are in their shoes ...thank God for today.
Idowu Enimakure :Nigeria's Amr Shabana, wish you a quick recovery.

Apapa squash League end of the year Final Tournament

TOURNAMENT UPDATE
The Apapa league grand finale has entered semifinals stage for men n finals for d ladies. A lot of upsets and turntable in d group stage so far.
Endurance Omosor bt Sodiq Taiwo(D Guru) 2-0
Lanre Pratt bt Temilolu Adegoke 2-1(both one time U-19 no 1) and lots more
Men semifinals start by 2pm while d finals for both category start by 4pm. Venue still remains squash section Apapa club 11th of December 2016 .
Sodiq Taiwo vs Lanre Abdulraham (final b4 final)
Endurance Omosor vs Idowu Enimakure( a game of high pace and speed)
Ladies final
Lola Ajayi vs Taiwo Ebifemi
Chief Host: Mr. Femi Adeyemo
Co-Host: Capt.Dayo Awobokun
Powered by PSPAN

APAPA LEAGUE FINAL Tourney/RESULT FOR 2016

APAPA LEAGUE FINAL RESULT FOR 2016
MEN
1. LANRE ABDULRAHAMAN-------------580
2. SODIQ TAIWO----------------------------------500
3. IDOWU ENIMAKURE----------------------380
4. TUNDE AJAGBE-----------------------------240
5. MOSES DUROSIMI-------------------------240
6. WASIU BELLO---------------------------------230
7. WALE AMAO----------------------------------220
8. SEUN JAYEOLA-----------------------------220
9. ENDURANCE OMOSOR----------------180
10. TEMILOLU ADEGOKE------------------170
11. ONAS ADEGOKE-------------------------150
12. DELE PRATT--------------------------------120
13. LANRE PRATT-----------------------------110
14. MICHAEL JOHN--------------------------100
15. TOBI JIMOH---------------------------------70
16. AYOMIDE OLADIPUPO---------------60
17. FARUQ SULEIMAN---------------------50
LADIES
1. TAIWO EBIFEMI---------------------------440
2. BUSAYO OLATUNJI---------------------320
3. BISI ADELEKE------------------------------320
4. YEMISI OLATUNJI-----------------------300
5. LOLA AJAYI---------------------------------300
6. KAFAYAT IDRIS---------------------------200
7. IDOWU OGUNYEMI---------------------200
8. OYINDA FATOKI--------------------------160
9. UDEME JAMES--------------------------140
10. TAIWO OGUNYEMI------------------120
CASH PRIZE BREAKDOWN
MEN
1st-------------------------------#126,000
2nd------------------------------#81,000
Joint 3rd---------------------#54,000x2=#108,000
5th-8th------------------------#36,000x4=#144,000
Total----------------------------#459,000
Ladies
1st-------------------------------#54,000
2nd------------------------------#36,000
Joint 3rd---------------------#22,500x2=#45,000
5th-8th------------------------#13,500x4=#54,000
Total----------------------------#189,000
GRAND TOTAL-----------#648,000
 APAPA SQUASH LEAGUE GRAND FINALE 2016
The above mentioned squash series has been scheduled for 10th-11th of this month( this weekend)
Venue: Squash section Apapa club
Time: Saturday 12noon- 6pm, Sunday 2pm-6pm.       Come n experience the final battle of d professional racket handlers for 2016.
Special gift for the first 20 to come
Admission is free!

High-Flying Selby Looking Forward to Channel VAS Championship

England’s World No.16 Daryl Selby will look to maintain his recent fine form when he competes in the Channel VAS Championship at St George’s Hill between December 8-12 in Weybridge.

Harlow-born Selby reached the final of the inaugural tournament last year, ultimately losing out to compatriot Chris Simpson in the final, but he has made a superb start to the 2016/17 season, ending a four-year PSA World Tour title drought at the Macau Open, before reaching a first World Series semi-final since 2012 at last month’s Qatar Classic.

The 34-year-old, who has now reached three semi-finals in a row after making it to the last four of the Edmonton Open and AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix in the intervening weeks, is full of confidence after his recent performances and says that his goal is to carry his fine form into the tournament held at the St George's Hill Lawn Tennis Club.

"I’m fairly over the moon with my recent form, I planned my tournaments and season carefully this year and I think it's paid off so far," said Selby

"I put in some really good work again in the summer and that's showed through the last few weeks. I really just want to try and keep this form up for as long as possible, as I'm aware that it's difficult over a long period of time. 

"We are lucky now that so many people and clubs have been able to put on PSA tournaments in the UK over the last few years. It's fantastic to see that there is the appetite and demand for it. I love playing on home soil and St.Georges Hill will be no different."

Selby, who represented the club for 14 years in the Professional Squash League (PSL), will compete in a talented draw which also features big names such as World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, his brother, World No.6 Marwan, former World No.1 James Willstrop and Colombian World No.13 Miguel Angel Rodriguez.

The increase in prize money - with the $100,000 prize fund a 300 per cent increase on last year - has helped the tournament attract some of the sport’s star names and, despite the draw throwing up a difficult fixture for Selby against Mohamed ElShorbagy in round one, he is encouraged by the growth of the tournament.

"It’s great that the tournament has been able to increase the prize money so quickly, and the quality of the draw shows that," he said.

"On paper, and in reality, it’s obviously the toughest draw I could have got. But I've had some pretty tough draws recently, and I've just concentrated on trying to play good squash and not worry about the result. We've had some good matches over the last few seasons, and it's always a good test to play the World No.1.

"I guess I have mixed memories from last year, I’m disappointed not to win, but Chris played well all week and deserved the title. I’m really looking forward to the tournament, I'm sure it will be a great week of squash for the players and the fans."

Qualification for the 2016 Channel VAS Championship at St George’s Hill takes place between December 6-7, with the main draw getting under way a day later and running up until the final on December 12.

The tournament is the second biggest PSA World Tour event to take place in Europe after the iconic British Open, and title sponsor Channel VAS has also committed to donating 100 per cent of the ticket sales to children’s charity CLIC Sargent, who offer cancer support for young people.

Tickets for the tournament are priced from £10-£45 and can be booked online here: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ChannelVASSquash

-ends-

Message from The CEO Naija Squash Media-OMOTADE isaac Adekunle

OMOTADE Isaac

*Happy new month/New year in advance to everyone ,it is the last month in 2016*

We all have been through alot from January to this time; It is not whether you get knocked down  it is whether you get back up....

Every accomplishment start with the decision to try.

You cannot beat a river into submission,you have to surrender to it current & use it power as your strength

The present state of the country is not an excuse for wrongs,wisdom is applicable to all,the solution lies in your mind to stand tall, obey the clarion call even if it has to take every ounce you've got! Nigeria is our country and we dwell in it, play your role,come together in unity: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba to make it a better place, bring the best out of her and hope for a better tomorrow. 

It is never too late to rise we shouldn't be too lazy to try. God bless all squash players across the globe. Also want to seize this opportunity to appreciate The entire members professional squash Athlete, PSPAN, Lagos country club (squash section), Apapa sport club (squash section), Ikoyi club(squash section), Unilag staff club (squash section), OAU squash club, O'trafford ikoyi, eagles club Lagos, Ibadan recreational club(squash section), Owerri sport club, Abuja, Delta, Benin, Ilorin, calabar, Uyo, Kaduna, kano-squash clubs, UPDC, Golden Tulip hotel(squash section), Cargolux Air line, Hot sport, individuals and other supporters that were not listed for providing us a place among squash families where we can call our 2nd home! God bless you all, God bless Nigeria!

      Folawewo Olumide -Executive officer

Adegboyega Jadesola-Editorial officer

Omotade Isaac-Chief Executive Officer

In summary Naija Squash Media is a platform that promote, supports and talks about basically squash events, gossips, tourneys happening around the world as long as we can get the news, we publish for everyone to see and read.
Squash is presently the world most healthiest sport. So we encourage individuals to be part of the game.
Naija Squash Media is presently the leading squash blog/social medias in Nigeria.
Incase you need contact of a squash coach anywhere in Nigeria to learn the game or be a part of the family you can give us a call: 08059423398, 0803 477 8110, or email us: 9jasquashmedia@gmail.com