Lagos Intl. Squash Classics: I’m not under pressure to win – Ajagbe

By Damilola Nubi/Olanrewaju Akojede

 Nigeria’s highest ranked Squash player, Babatunde Ajagbe, on Tuesday said he was not under pressure to win the Lagos International Squash Classics.

Ajagbe said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the opening ceremony of the tournament.

Ajagbe, number 175 according to world ranking, explained that he was in the tournament to have fun and fully express himself while winning the tournament comes secondary.

“It’s nice coming back to Nigeria to play the Lagos International Squash Classics because we last had it in 2018 about five years ago.

“The International Classics is an opportunity for the players to play because some of them have been training with nothing to show for it, now the opportunity has presented itself.

“Some Nigerian players cannot travel out because of logistics such as transportation, visa hitch and lack of sponsorship while this classics provides them the opportunity to get international ranking,” he said.

On the expectations from the tournament, Ajagbe said he was not bothered favourite tag for the competition.

“I have been faced with many questions about the expectations from the tournament, but for me, I just want to have fun.

“There is a lot of stress, anxiety when considered as favourite and this weighs players down not to perform to their best.

“I don’t want to put pressure on myself to win, I just want to give my best, if I win, that’s good enough.

“Putting pressure on players to win cannot bring out the best in them, playing at home is already a pressure, then adding the favourite tag is much of a pressure for the player.

“For me, I don’t have any toughest player I am expecting to play against, because there are many factors that can contribute to either winning or losing a match,” he said.

NAN reports that the Lagos International Squash Classics has eight countries vying for honours at the Molade-Okoya Thomas Hall Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The 18,000 dollars prize tournament have representatives from Egypt, England, France Czech Republic, Hong Kong and host Nigeria.

(NAN)