Lagos Squash Classic RD1: Onaopemipo and Shedrack Win On Opening Day

Tournament wildcards Adegoke Onaopemipo and Abel Shedrack both took wins on the opening day of the Lagos State Squash Classic.

Squash returned to Nigeria on Tuesday for the first time since 2018, when this event was last held, and a whole host of Nigerians were in action on the opening day.

Onaopemipo, a former Nigerian No.1, got the better of France’s Brice Nicolas in the first round. He won in straight games, taking an 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 victory to move through to the second round.

Meanwhile, Shedrack was featuring on Tour for the first time, and he defeated Germany’s Jan Wipperfurth to advance. The German won the opening game 11-8, but then saw Shedrack fight back. The Nigerian won the next three games to take the victory and to move through to the second round.

The wildcard pair will be joined by compatriot Kehinde Samuel Temitope and Gabriel Olufunmilayo, who both won on the opening day. Both beat fellow Nigerians, with Olufunmilayo downing Faruq Sulaimon in straight games. Temitobe downed wildcard Femi Shedara in four to win.

Elsewhere, Finland’s Henrik Mustonen, England’s Aaron Allpress and the Egyptian duo of Yusuf Elsherif and Seif Tamer all secured wins to move through to the last 16, where the seeded eight men will come into the draw.

Wednesday, May 10 will also see the start of the women’s Challenger 5 level competition, which will run through to Saturday alongside the men’s. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s First Round Results: Lagos State Squash Classic
Yusuf Elsherif (EGY) bt [WC] Ayomide Oladipupo Michael (NGR) 3-1: 11-6, 13-11, 6-11, 11-4 (47m)
[WC] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) bt Brice Nicolas (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (24m)
Kehinde Samuel Temitope (NGR) bt [WC] Femi Shedara (NGR) 3-1: 13-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-2 (50m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Omar ElKattan (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 12-10, 12-10 (21m)
[WC] Abel Shedrack (NGR) bt Jan Wipperfurth (GER) 3-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (42m)
Seif Tamer (EGY) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 (30m)
Aaron Allpress (ENG) bt Pradeep Malik (IND) 3-0: 11-1, 11-1, 11-3 (20m)
Gabriel Olufunmilayo (NGR) bt Faruq Sulaimon (NGR) 3-0: 11-6, 11-1, 11-2 (19m)

Men’s Second Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, May 10
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) v Yusuf Elsherif (EGY)
[WC] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) v [6] Ziad Ibrahim (EGY)
[7] Laszlo Godde (FRA) v Kehinde Samuel Temitope (NGR)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) v [4] Perry Malik (ENG)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) v [WC] Abel Shedrack (NGR)
Seif Tamer (EGY) v [5] Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR)
[8] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) v Aaron Allpress (ENG)
Gabriel Olufunmilayo (NGR) v [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY)

Women’s First Round Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, May 10
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) v [WC] Titlayo Akinleye (NGR)
[WC] Taiwo Ebifemi (NGR) v [6] Isaac Blessing (NGR)
[7] Mariam Ashraf (EGY) v [WC] Modupe Faniyi (NGR)
[WC] Mostural Durosinlorun (NGR) v [3] Busayo Olatunji (NGR)
[4] Rofiat Abdulazeez (NGR) v [WC] Udeme James (NGR)
[WC] Awawu Balogun (NGR) v [5] Malak Fathy (EGY)
[8] Favour Utukpe (NGR) v [WC] Delight Temple (NGR)
[WC] Idowu Ogunyemi (NGR) v [2] Lea Barbeau (FRA)