Lagos Squash Classic Day 2: Several Home Hopes Into Quarters

The second day of the Lagos State Squash Classic saw the men’s second round and the start of the women’s event, with several Nigerians making it into the quarter finals on home soil in Lagos.

In the men’s draw, wildcard Adegoke Onaopemipo caused another upset, as he downed No.6 seed Ziad Ibrahim to make the last eight. The Nigerian won a tough opening game 16-14, but then proceeded to fall behind after losing the second and third, both by an 11-5 scoreline.

Ibrahim may have led 2-1, but Onaopemipo fought back strongly, winning the fourth game 11-7 to level the contest and send the match into a deciding game. He would then go on to win the fifth as well, taking it 11-8 to secure the win after 75 minutes, advancing to face top seed Curtis Malik in the last eight.

He will be joined in the men’s quarter finals by compatriot Kehinde Samuel Temitope. The Nigerian overcame France’s Laszlo Godde, the No.7 seed, in straight games on Wednesday evening. The third game went to a tie-break, but Temitope came through it 13-11 to advance to the last eight.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Egypt’s Seif Tamer and England’s Perry Malik both came through five-game battles. Tamer got the better of current Nigerian No.1 Babatunde Ajagbe, the tournament’s No.5 seed, to book his place, while Malik joins older brother Curtis in the quarter finals.

The women’s first round saw all eight of the seeded players take wins, with four Nigerians among them. Rofiat Abdulazeez was the only one to win in straight games, while Isaac Blessing, Busayo Olatunji and Favour Utukpe also winning.

Elsewhere, top seed Torrie Malik joined her two brothers in making it through to the last four. She will be joined by France’s Lea Barbeau and the Egyptian duo of Malak Fathy and Mariam Ashraf also advancing.

The Lagos State Squash Classic continues on Thursday, May 11 with the quarter finals of the competition. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Second Round Results: Lagos State Squash Classic
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Yusuf Elsherif (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 13-11 (37m)
[WC] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) bt [6] Ziad Ibrahim (EGY) 3-2: 16-14, 5-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8 (75m)
Kehine Samuel Temitope (NGR) bt [7] Laszlo Godde (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (41m)
[4] Perry Malik (ENG) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 3-2: 5-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (35m)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) bt [WC] Abel Shedrack (NGR) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 (25m)
Seif Tamer (EGY) bt [5] Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR) 3-2: 11-3, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 (60m)
[8] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) bt Aarno Allpress (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (32m)
[2] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt Gabriel Olufunmilayo (NGR) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-9 (40m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, May 11
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) v [WC] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR)
Kehine Samuel Temitope (NGR) v [4] Perry Malik (ENG)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) v Seif Tamer (EGY)
[8] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) v [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY)

Women’s First Round Results: Lagos State Squash Classic
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt [WC] Titilayo Akinleye (NGR) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (23m)
[6] Isaac Blessing (NGR) bt [WC] Taiwo Ebifemi (NGR) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-1 (32m)
[7] Mariam Ashraf (EGY) bt [WC] Modupe Faniyi (NGR) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (20m)
[3] Busayo Olatunji (NGR) bt [WC] Mostural Durosinlorun (NGR) 3-1: 11-5, 11-3, 10-12, 11-5 (22m)
[4] Rofiat Abdulazeez (NGR) bt [WC] Udeme James (NGR) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (19m)
[5] Malak Fathy (EGY) bt [WC] Awawu Balogun (NGR) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (16m)
[8] Favour Utukpe (NGR) bt [WC] Delight Temple (NGR) 3-1: 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-2 (45m)
[2] Lea Barbeau (FRA) bt [WC] Idowu Ogunyemi (NGR) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 (26m)

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, May 11
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) v [6] Isaac Blessing (NGR)
[7] Mariam Ashraf (EGY) v [3] Busayo Olatunji (NGR)
[4] Rofiat Abdulazeez (NGR) v [5] Malak Fathy (EGY)
[8] Favour Utukpe (NGR) v [2] Lea Barbeau (FRA)