ABEOKUTA– The 5th Iya Alaso Racket Festival has served-off at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Squash Court in Abeokuta, just as the organisers frowns at the dearth of racket sports facilities in the state.
The three in one event, with players drawn from the South West states will also hold at the Ake Squash Court and the ABEOKUTA Sports Club with Squash, Tennis, and Badminton competed.
Speaking with newsmen at the Media briefly, the organiser and founder of the Adekunle Adebiyi Sports Foundation, Mr Adekunle Adebiyi stated that the squash event will feature U-16 and U-19 boys and girls respectively.
Similarly, he noted that the tennis event will feature U-14 and U-18 while that of badminton will include players in U-16 and U-18 in both boys and girls categories.
“We are anticipating total of 90 players for the squash event and they are coning from 12 states, and four academies. As for the tennis and badminton, four states are taking part.
“Lots of prizes will be given to those players that distinguished themselves at the event. It will be for players ranked from 1-8 positions, and it could be extended further.
“Actually, this year edition is supposed to hold in Ondo State, but because of facility, it has to hold here in Abeokuta. All the sports equipment will be delivered to Ondo State despite that it is holding in Abeokuta,” he stressed.
Similarly, Justice George Shoremi commended the sponsor for given out rackets to players, urging that the state government to build standard squash court at the Alake Sports Complex in Ijeja.
He therefore advised that the state government should put more money into sports to enhance sports development across the state.
