The grounds of St. Edwards Secondary School in Kingtom were abuzz with excitement as they hosted a dynamic two-day squash tournament on May 31 and June 1, 2024. This highly anticipated event, supervised by the Sierra Leone Squash Association and graced by senior management from NP Sierra Leone, featured intense competition among eleven schools in three categories: under 14, under 16, and under 21.

The participating schools included St. Edwards Secondary School, Annie Walsh, Prince of Wales, Grammar School, FSSG, St. Joseph Secondary School, Albert Academy, Lebanese School, Collegiate School, Methodist Girls High School, and Services Secondary School. According to national squash coach Baico Sesay, the tournament aimed to nurture young talent, emphasizing, “We took the tournament to schools to catch the players young.”

Final matches, played on the second day, saw standout performances, particularly in the under 21 category. Shima Koroma, a finalist in this category, expressed his dedication and aspirations, stating, “I trained very hard and am excited to be playing in the finals. I look forward to representing Sierra Leone in the game of squash.”

The award ceremony, chaired by media mogul Dr. Williete James, celebrated the winners with cash prizes, certificates, and trophies. The newly appointed CEO of NP Sierra Leone, Saidu Mansaray, delivered a brief speech on the origins and significance of squash, highlighting its global reach of over 20 million players. He reiterated NP Sierra Leone’s commitment to supporting the sport, noting their efforts in building squash courts in Freetown and Bo.

In the under 14 category, Lebanese School and Methodist Girls High School clinched the boys’ and girls’ titles, respectively. Services Secondary School triumphed in the boys’ under 16 category, while Methodist Girls High School secured the girls’ title. Collegiate School and Services Secondary School emerged victorious in the under 21 boys’ and girls’ categories, respectively. The first-place winners received NLe2000, second place NLe1500, and third place NLe1000.

The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from competitor Emmanuella Conteh, marking the end of a successful and inspiring tournament that showcased the burgeoning talent in Sierra Leone’s squash scene.

 

 

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