Female Squash Players Call For More Competitions

Worried by the dearth of
competitions, female squash players in the country have urged sports authorities and private organisations to institute tournaments for them.
The players, who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos, noted that they hardly had up to five competitions in a year.
They noted that not a single competitions was organised for junior female players in 2015, while the senior players only had three competitions during the period.
According to the female players, their male counterparts usually have 12 to 14 competitions annually.
Longdi Dasbak, former number one female squash player, said that the situation had discouraged upcoming female players, as there were no sponsorships coming for regular competitions.
“If you look at most of the club monthly tournaments, hardly will you see female category, it always include that of the men, and we get all sort of excuses.
“Aside from regular competitions, there is great disparity in price money, at times what we get as winner in our category is less than what the third position gets in the male category.
“We have being trying our best to change this status quo, we train as much as men do so what is the difference?
“In fact, we train more, what we have suffered over the years, the younger players may not be able to bear it,’’ Dasbak said.
Sharing similar views is Lola Ajayi, another top female squash player told newsmen that young players were being discouraged from choosing squash as a sport.
“Honestly speaking it is demoralizing for upcoming players. Take for instance, the forthcoming Alake of Egba competition is almost on the way but it is only opened for male junior players.
“I think it’s unfair. So many talents have abandoned squash, it’s crazy to train hard and at the end of the day, there is no competition to participate in.
“Something needs to be done, we are helpless, we don’t know how we can seek redress, I pray someday soon, something good will come on,” she said.