Action at the tournament on Monday.
*… as Falase eyes emergence of new stars
The Chairman of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament, Tomi Falase, says the annual championship has continued to serve as a vital platform for discovering and nurturing talents while promoting the growth of squash in Nigeria.
Falase stated this at the opening of the fourth edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament, which began on Monday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
A total of 190 players registered for this year’s tournament, representing a significant increase from the 150 participants recorded in the 2025 edition.
According to him, the steady rise in participation reflects the growing popularity of the sport and the impact of sustained efforts to develop squash at the grassroots level.
“We are looking forward to more improvements in this year’s edition. Every year, we witness growth in both participation and the quality of competition.
“There are more players competing this year than we had last year, which is a positive sign for the development of squash in the country,” he said.
Falase noted that the championship had evolved into one of the biggest squash events in Nigeria and commended sponsors for their continued commitment to the sport.
“We are very grateful to Prime Atlantic and our other partners for supporting this tournament.
“We need more corporate organisations to invest in squash because sponsorship is critical to the growth of the game and the development of young talents,” he said.
Speaking on the emergence of younger players, Falase expressed optimism about the future of Nigerian squash, citing the increasing competitiveness among junior athletes.
“There has been remarkable improvement among the younger players.
“They are becoming more competitive and are beginning to challenge the established stars.
“We are seeing encouraging growth at the grassroots level, and I believe that in the next few years, more female players will emerge to compete at the highest level.
“That is good for the game because it creates healthy competition and helps to raise standards,” he said.
Also speaking, the Tournament Director, Wasiu Sanni, a former number ranked male player in the 1960’d commended the organisers for sustaining the championship but expressed concern over the pace of development in the women’s category, calling for increased efforts to encourage female participation.
“We have seen improvement, but there is still room for growth, especially among female players.
“We need to continue encouraging more girls to take up squash and remain active in the sport,” he said.
Sanni described sports as a powerful tool for youth development and social transformation.
“Sports can change lives. Many young people have found purpose and opportunities through sports.
“If we continue to create platforms like this tournament, more young boys and girls will be inspired to pursue their dreams and contribute positively to society,” he said.
He also lauded efforts aimed at improving players’ welfare through enhanced prize money.
“The association has made significant progress. Both the male and female champions will receive N500,000 each.
“This is a positive development and an indication that stakeholders are committed to rewarding excellence and encouraging greater participation,” he said.
One of the players, Ebifemi Taiwo, who reached the quarter-finals in the previous edition, expressed confidence in surpassing his earlier performance.
“I have prepared very well for this tournament and I am looking forward to doing better than I did last year.
“I have continued to work on my game, and I believe the training I have undergone will reflect in my performance,” he said.
Another player, Samuel Nduka, who also reached the quarter-finals in the 2025 edition, expressed optimism about his chances.
“I have worked on my stamina and overall game. This year, I believe I will do better and focus on taking one match at a time,” he said.
In the opening-day matches, David Agbaje defeated Mohammed Azim 3-0, while Daniel Awe also recorded a 3-0 victory over Godswill Ejiro.
In the Under-19 Boys category, Usman Abdusalami defeated Omotayo Ayomi 3-1.
The fourth edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament is expected to attract some of the country’s top-ranked players and emerging talents, further strengthening its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading squash championships.
