The immediate past President of the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), Boye Oyerinde, has commended the steady improvement in the standard of play at the ongoing fourth edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament, describing the championship as a major platform for talent development.

Oyerinde spoke on Wednesday during the second round matches of the tournament holding at the squash courts of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The championship, which began on June 22, will end on June 27, with players competing in best-of-five-set matches across various categories in the second round.

He said the quality of matches and the development of young players had improved significantly compared to previous editions.

“The growth is evident for everyone to see.

“The games are better, the players are getting better and it shows they are putting in the hard work in training.

“I am particularly impressed with the junior players. Some of them are very young, yet their level of play has improved remarkably from what we saw last year. It is fantastic and encouraging for the future of the sport,” Oyerinde said.

The former federation president also underscored the importance of corporate sponsorship in sustaining the growth of squash in the country.

“Virtually everything we do in sports depends on sponsorship. It is always commendable when organisations identify with a sport and support its development.

“Such support encourages participation at all levels and helps create opportunities for players to improve and compete,” he said.

Also speaking, the tournament’s lead referee, Adebowale Oladeji, said the competition had witnessed a significant increase in both participation and playing standard.

In some of qualifying matches for quarter-finals, Temiloluwa Adegoke defeated Sheu Muyideen 3-0, while Samuel Nduka-Uba won Abudusman Olanrewaju 3-0.

According to him, junior players have emerged as major contenders in the senior categories, resulting in several surprises during the tournament.

The defending champion in both U 19 and Men-s category have qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating Monday Bright, Samson Asade progressd to the next game having defeated Daniel Elisa.

“There is a noticeable improvement in both the turnout and the quality of play, especially among the junior players.

“In fact, many of the under-19 players have dominated the senior categories this year.

“We have seen several upsets, particularly in the men’s event, which shows that the younger players are progressing very well,” he said.

Oladeji added that the tournament’s reward structure had also served as a motivation for players.

“The sponsor’s support has been encouraging because players know there is something to gain from their efforts.

“This motivates them to work harder and compete at their best.

“Even those who do not finish among the top positions receive some form of reward, which is positive for the growth of the game,” he said.

The referee also noted that young players were being introduced to officiating under the supervision of experienced referees as part of efforts to build capacity within the sport.

“They are learning the rules and gaining valuable officiating experience.

“While there are occasional lapses due to their age and inexperience, we supervise them closely and guide them whenever necessary.

“Their understanding of the rules is improving and they are becoming better officials with every opportunity they get,” he said.

Similarly, coach Tinuade Adebayo praised the performance of the under-19 players, saying they had consistently challenged and defeated more experienced opponents.

Giwa Shuaib defeated Yusuf Babalola 3-0, similarly Ayomide Oladipupo defeated Victor Effiong, Farqu Sulaimon trashed Stephen Adebayo 3-0

“The U-19 boys have been outstanding. I am very impressed with their performances because they are competing confidently against senior players and winning matches.

“Players such as Yusuf Quadri
and Samuel Nduka-Uba have shown tremendous improvement over the years and they are proving their quality in this tournament,” Adebayo said.

She added that the players’ understanding of the rules and their interaction with referees had also improved significantly.

“They understand the game much better now and their appreciation of officiating is growing.

“Their knowledge of the rules is accurate and they continue to improve,” she said.

The Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament has continued to attract some of the country’s leading players and emerging talents, providing a platform for competition, talent discovery and the development of squash in Nigeria. (NAN)