One of Nigeria’s top-ranked squash players, Adegoke Onaopemipo, has won the Namibian Open 2023.
TOP MEDIA reports that ‘Onas’, as Onaopemipo is fondly called, defeated Damian Groenewald of South Africa in a tightly-contested final. The Nigerian, who clocked 24 on Monday, September 25, triumphed 3-2 (11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 9-11) in a stunning comeback victory last weekend.
It was Onaopemipo’s maiden Professional Squash Association (PSA) title, and it meant he was the first-ever Nigerian to win an open PSA tournament in this generation. This media platform understands that the achievement is expected to catapult the champion to No.186 in the world.
Reacting to his feat, ‘Onas’ told TOP MEDIA that it is “a dream come true”.
He said:
“Winning my first PSA title here is a dream come true and this is even sweeter as I gave myself a huge birthday present. An amazing week!
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my family, friends, team, and stakeholders.
“From the depth of my heart, I thank you to every single person who has consistently shown me unconditional love and support.
“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone from the Wanderers Squash Club, Windhoek, Namibia. You guys stood by me from the onset till the end and showered me with love. I must say your unwavering encouragement gave me an edge and strength. See you next year!”
Meanwhile, apart from ‘Onas’, other Nigerian athletes who participated in the tournament include Gabriel Olufunmilayo, Kehinde Samuel, and Faruq Sulaimon. Olufunmilayo was a semifinalist.
In the women’s category, Isaac Blessing, Favour Utukpe, Rofiat AbdulAzeez, and Busayo Olatunji — all young players — flew Nigeria’s flag. Blessing impressively reached the last four while Utukpe was a quarter-finalist.
