Kwara State continues to make waves in Nigerian sports as its young squash athletes put up impressive performances at the maiden edition of the Eko Club Under-16 and Under-19 Squash Tournament, held in Lagos from June 26 to 29.
The tournament, organized in honour of late squash patron Juwon Adenuga, featured some of Nigeria’s brightest emerging talents and Kwara’s representatives were among the best.
In the Under-19 boys’ final, Kwara’s Shuaib Giwa stunned Lagos-based Quadri Yusuf in a pulsating 3-2 victory (11/3, 6/11, 9/11, 11/9, 11/4), marking a turning point in their long-standing rivalry.
It was Giwa’s first win over Yusuf after four straight losses, a testament of maturity, hard work, and quality coaching.
But perhaps one of the most heartbreaking yet heroic moments came from Kwara’s Mistura Durosinlorun, who narrowly missed the Under-19 girls’ title in a dramatic five-set final against Awawu Balogun of Lagos University.
Durosinlorun, who led by two sets, eventually fell 2-3 (10/12, 8/11, 11/8, 14/12, 12/10) in what was widely regarded as one of the best matches of the tournament.
Despite the loss, Mistura earned admiration for her fierce competitiveness and technical finesse, reminding spectators that Kwara remains a force to reckon with in female squash.
In the Under-16 girls’ final, another Kwara star, Aishat Abdulraheem, delivered a spirited performance, only narrowly losing to Lagos’ Zainab Ishola after taking the first two sets (3/11, 7/11, 13/11, 12/10, 11/5).
These performances further underscore the impact of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s sustained investment in sports development, which is now producing top-tier athletes across multiple disciplines. Under his leadership, squash has received renewed attention, with increased support for youth participation and tournament exposure.
The Eko Club Squash Tournament has now become another platform where Kwara’s commitment to sports excellence is being demonstrated with young athletes like Giwa, Durosinlorun, and Abdulraheem carrying the state’s flag with pride and promise.
Kwara is not just participating, it is competing, excelling, and redefining the future of Nigerian sports.
