Iguodala, Aminat, win Ex Pros Diaspora U-13, 16 Squash Championships

U-16 BOYS
Clinton Iguodala (Headwaters) bt
Damilare Alabi (Lagos) 3-0

U-16 GIRLS
Musa Aminat (kwara) bt
Rukayat Oladunmoye (Kwara) 3-0

U-13 BOYS
Wisdom Nzei (Akwa-ibom)
bt
Daniel Nzei ( Akwa-ibom)  3-2

U-13 GIRLS
Mistura Durosinlorun (kwara)
bt
Chidinma Orji(Abia)
3-0

Fans at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos at the weekend left the arena satisfied that Nigerian squash was walking a safe development path following the fantastic displays by emerging stars at the Ex Pros Diaspora Championship.
At the championship in its second edition, Clinton Iguodala defeated Damilare Alabi to win the U-16 boys category of the tournament, which is aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents from across the country.
Musa Aminat also defeated Rukayat Olasumoye to win the U-16 category, while Wisdom Nzei won the U-13 boys’ by beating his younger brother, Daniel Nzei, just as little Mistura Durosinlorun outshined Chidimma Orji to win the U-13 girls’ category.
Speaking at the end of the championship, the boys’ U-16 champion, Iguodala expressed his delight at the opportunity given the youths to contest with their peers from across Nigeria.
He said, “I am happy to be champion at this event. The Ex Pros have given me the platform to sharpen my skills in the sport and I call on the squash federation to continue organising more competitions like this to expose hidden talents.
“My desire is to be Nigeria’s champion in squash in future.” Also speaking at the event, the Tournament Director, Don Pedro David said the Ex Pro Diaspora Squash tournament was organised by former squash players to help groom talents at the grassroots level to be champions. He disclosed that over 200 children from across Nigeria registered for this year’s event.
An NSF board member, Wilson Egberipou, who is also the chairman of Bayelsa State Squash Federation, said the board was working round the clock to expose more kids to international championships in future.
“The Ex Pro tournament and the Sunfit Squash Championship are all directed towards catching them young in the game of squash. Based on the turn out of more children in the second edition of the Ex Pros tournament, it is clear that the awareness of the sport is gaining more momentum. Former Squash players in Nigeria and overseas are forging ahead to revive the game of squash in the country,” he said. At the end of the tournament, rackets, shots, canvases, shirts, squash kits and other prizes were given to the winners and participants, whose parents were present to cheer them.

CREDIT: The Guardian