Ogun State’s rising squash talents stole the spotlight at the South-West Junior Boys and Girls Squash Championship held in Abeokuta, clinching three of the four titles contested at the commemorative tournament marking the 20th coronation anniversary of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
The two-day championship, staged at the Alake Squash Court inside Ake Palace, showcased thrilling displays of skill and resilience from young players across the region.
In the U-16 Girls’ category, Ogun’s Elizabeth Adebayo mounted a remarkable comeback to defeat Lagos’ Chioma Ude 3-2 in a fiercely contested final. Adebayo, who dropped the first and third sets 5/11 and 6/11 respectively, rallied back to claim the remaining sets 11/7, 11/6, 11/6 to secure the trophy.
The U-16 Boys’ final was an all-Ogun affair, with Ayomide Omotayo easing past compatriot Peter Adeleke in straight sets—11/5, 11/8, 11/7—further cementing the host state’s dominance.
For Lagos’ Ude, the day ended on a sour note as she again fell short in the U-19 Girls’ final, losing 0-2 to Ogun’s impressive Awawu Balogun.
Lagos State, however, took consolation in the U-19 Boys’ event, where Quadri Yusuf overcame teammate Joshua Daniel in a nail-biting 3-2 victory decided 8/11, 9/11, 11/9, 11/2, 11/9.
The finals were witnessed by the Alake, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who led a delegation of top Egba chiefs to watch the youngsters display remarkable promise on the court.
Tournament sponsor and Egba High Chief, Tokunbo Omisore, described the competition as his contribution to the monarch’s 20th coronation anniversary and to the development of sports in Egbaland and Nigeria.
According to him, the primary objective of the championship is to discover and groom future squash stars who can represent Ogun State and the nation.
He also urged other Egba chiefs to support youth development initiatives—whether through sports or vocational skill programmes—to harness the vast potential of young people in the kingdom.
Similarly, the President of Royalty Club of Egbaland, Tunde Aregbesola, said the competition was organized in honour of the Alake, whom he described as a lover of squash. He noted that the club has consistently staged the tournament for over a decade, producing players who have gone on to represent Ogun State and Nigeria.
Aregbesola expressed gratitude to Chief Omisore for funding this year’s edition and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to sustaining its tradition of scouting and nurturing exceptional squash talents.
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