Organizers of the maiden edition of the Chamberlain
Squash Open (CSO) at the weekend disclosed that a total prize money of $12,000
will be won by various competitors in both the male and female categories.
The Promoter of the CSO, Chamberlain Usoh, who disclosed
this in a press briefing in Lagos also said 89 players have been duly
registered for the competition that kicks off on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at at
the Ikeja Country Club.
"The competition kicks off on Sunday, August 20 and
runs till the 26th. It will be an annual event and the players are in high
spirits. We are glad with the impressive turnout of participants.
"The tournament's total prize money is $12,000 for
both the men and female categories.
"The winner in the men's category will go home with
$1,850 (N658,825) while that of the winner in the female category smiles home
with N200,000.
"The thing with the female category is that there
have not been frequent tournaments for them but in partnership with the
federation and the Ministry of Sports, we will see how we can pay more
attention to the female category.
"The idea is to make more of them get ranked on PSA
world ranking", Usoh stated.
In the men's category, the first runner up clinches a
cash prize of $1,235 (N450,775), while the women's first runner up will go home
with N150,000.
According to Usoh, "89 players (local and
international) actually registered to participant in the tournament, Tom Ford
is here and we are expecting Mark Broekman in the next few days", he said.
The CSO promoter also revealed that after the draws, 56
players will be participating in the tournament, while others will be in the
reserve.
"There will be prizes for the winners, runner-up,
joint third, Most Valuable Player (MVP), while the tournament director and
technical team will determine other prize category", he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the President, Nigeria Squash
Federation (NSF), Boye Oyerinde expressed joy for the CSO.
"What Chamberlain Squash Open is doing in a nutshell
is very much in line with what we are trying to do at the federation level
(Nigeria Squash Federation).
"Squash is the most beautiful game in the world,
though, it is not a visible sport by design. I say by design because, I doubt
if some of us in here know if there is a squash court in this place", he
said.
Oyerinde sought the support of the media to promote
squash in the country, even as he expressed excitement that the CSO would be an
annual event.
He added: "The game can start, as you can see Tom
Ford is already here, Yemisi Olatunji and Sodiq Taiwo look prepared for the
tournament and we hope you will be present when the competition starts on
Sunday".
Also speaking at the briefing, Samuel Aminu, Secretary
General, Nigerian Sports Federation said what CSO has done was to create
massive awareness for squash in the country, which he said had been relegated
to the background.
"I am really very thrilled today witnessing this new
beginning for squash in Nigeria and I like to urge you all to join hands with
the federation to revive the game and move squash to the next level.
"Chamberlain Squash has set a pace which everyone
here need to emulate and he need to be commended for this initiative", he
stated.
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