An 11-year-old student of Spring of Life International School, Enugu, Emmanuel Okechkwu, has emerged champion of the Under-13 and Under-19 State Independence Squash Championship.

Master Okechukwu who won the Under-13 Gold at the championships in 2020 received the Best Player award of the championship.

Speaking with journalists in Enugu on Monday, the youngster said “I am highly excited and I always want to do my parents proud and to follow the footsteps of my role model in squash.

“I always feel like a champion whenever I’m playing and to be a champion of two categories is great.”

The third edition featured Under-13 boys and girls, Under-19 boys and girls, Men and Women category and Veterans class.

At the final played inside the Dragon Squash Court, Nigeria Army 82 Division, Enugu, Okechukwu defeated Abubakar Mohammed 3-0 in the Under-13 boys’ category.

He defeated the former champion of the Under-19 boys’ category, Chidi Eze, by 3-2 to win the 2021 edition.

John Obasi won the men’s category by defeating Marcus Lawrence 3-1, while Chinasa Oge beat Kamsi Onuora 2-0 in the Under-13 girls’ category.

In the girls Under-19 final, Daniella Okechukwu overpowered Naomi Silver 3-2, while Cecelia Okon won the Women’s category with 3-0 against Victoria Tokula.

Individual awards went to Naomi Sylvester as the Best Behaved Player; while Amanda Onaga won the Youngest Player of the championship.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Chiemezue Okechukwu.

Players who finished first received gold medals, racquets, cash and trophies while runners-up received medals, cash and squash balls.

The winner of the women’s category went home with cash, a medal, a bag of rice and a carton of tomatoes.

All participants were given certificates of participation for the championship which began on December 16 and ended December 19.

(NAN)