Group targets squash slots at Paris 2024 Olympics

squash rackets with ball

Nigeria may participate in the squash event of Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games if all the plans by stakeholders sail through.

One of the stakeholders, who organised the just-concluded Abuja 2023 Squash Open, Childcare/Wellness Clinic and Revitalise Wellness and Holistic Gardens in Abuja, said the tournament, which featured 67 participants from across the country from November 27 to December 2, was in line with efforts to take the Nigerian game to Paris 2024.

According to the director of the tournament, Jerry Oguejiofor, “the take home is for us to ensure that our players are well positioned now that squash is included in the Olympics.

“We hope that from here, they will gain more points because this is a PSA ranking tournament. So, it would help them to gain more points in the world.”

Health service manager at Childcare and Wellness Clinic, Kingsley Ochonogor, justified the decision to sponsor the event, saying it is in tandem with the outfit’s commitment towards enhancing the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He also explained that the initiative was aimed at rekindling the interest of sports-loving Nigerians in squash, noting, “we love the sport, the game of squash. From what we have seen so far, it’s a breathtaking event. We play squash in one way or the other, but we don’t know that it is called squash.

“The stakes are always high. The coming year would be better than this since this is the maiden competition. Of course, there is every room for improvement.”

Also speaking at the event, winner of the women’s category of the singles, Kwara State’s Rufiat Abdulaziz commended the sponsors for the initiative, saying, “this is the second biggest tournament I am participating in this year. It is actually a good idea