NAN-S-11
Squash
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Nov. 5, 2017 (NAN) A North Central/Invitational Squash Championship, tagged “AGF Abdul-Razaq Squash Classic’’ has been scheduled to hold at the squash courts of the Kwara Stadium from Wednesday to Nov. 12.
The championship is being organised as part of activities to mark the 90th birthday celebration of Abdul-Ganiyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, a former National Legal Adviser of the then Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC).
Acting Head Coach of Kwara State squash team, Alarape Atanda, told newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday that senior players in both the male and female categories will be at the championship.
“These players will come from Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Ogun, Lagos, Edo and the FCT.
“They will join their Kwara counterparts to jostle for honours in the three-day championship in honour of Abdul-Razaq, who is the Mutawali of Ilorin and Tafida of Zaria,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Kwara squash courts are already being put in shape by the state Squash Association.
The Association has also promised to ensure a hitch-free and befitting competition.
Atanda, who is in the competition’s Organising Committee, said no stone would be left unturned to give the celebrant a befitting birthday gift through a hitch-free competition.
Prizes for the male event of the competition include a N75,000 cash prize for winner, and N50,000 for the runner-up.
The joint third-placed players will get N34,000 each, while the fifth-placed player to the eighth-placed player will get N20,000 each.
Those ranked ninth to 16th after the competition will get N10,000 each.
In the female category, the winner will get N50,000, runner-up N35,000, while those placed joint third down to the 16th-placed will get the same amount as the male players.
Abdul-Razaq was the first lawyer from the old Northern Nigeria, and former Minister of State for Transport, and he also held many other important positions.(NAN)
OOH/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)