Rofiat Abdulazeez and Gabriel Olufunmilayo have emerged winners in the women’s and men’s categories respectively at the 3rd edition of the John Hett Sports Foundation/Professional Squash Association (PSA) Squash Open held on Sunday.
The finals, which climaxed the six-day tournament held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere saw Abdulazeez of JHSF/Kwara outplay her compatriot Khadija Abdulraheem (JHSF/Kwara) in straight sets of 11/8, 11/8, 11/9 to retain her dominance on the local squash scene.
In the men’s final, Olufunmilayo, representing JHSF/NSCDC/Edo, proved his class with a commanding 3-0 victory over Abel Shedrack of JHSF/NPF/Edo, winning 11/7, 11/9, 11/4.
The tournament, which attracted top-ranked players from across the country, was organised to promote squash development and nurture young talents through competitive exposure.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Founder of the John Hett Sports Foundation, , said the initiative was aimed at discovering and supporting young Nigerian squash players to compete favourably at international levels.
“We are proud of the level of play and discipline displayed by all participants. Our goal is to build future champions who can put Nigeria on the world squash map,” he said.
The Tournament Director, Idowu Enimakure, commended the high level of sportsmanship exhibited by the players and expressed appreciation to sponsors and partners for their continuous support.
According to him, the tournament’s prize money reflected the organisers’ commitment to rewarding excellence and motivating athletes.
The first-place winners in both categories received N380,425 each, while the runners-up got N201,793. Joint third-place finishers earned N107,621 each.
Enimakure also acknowledged the contributions of the founder and sponsors of the tournament, Degbola Abudu and Sola Abudu, whose support helped ensure the success of the 2025 edition.
Abdulazeez, who expressed delight at her win, said consistency and hard work contributed to her success. “It’s always tough facing Khadija because we train together, but I’m happy I maintained focus to win the title,” she said.
Olufunmilayo also described his victory as a product of resilience and preparation, noting that each game tested his strength and strategy.
The event, sponsored by the John Hett Sports Foundation in partnership with the Professional Squash Association and supported by corporate donors, ended with the presentation of trophies, medals, and cash prizes to outstanding players.
The 3rd edition of the JHSF/PSA Squash Open builds on the foundation’s growing reputation for supporting grassroots sports and strengthening Nigeria’s presence in global squash rankings.
