Top seeds advance to second round
ALL of the top seeds in this year’s GT&T-sponsored Guyana Squash Association National Senior Championships advanced to the second round with minimum fuss on Tuesday night at the Georgetown Club courts.

Alysa Xavier was the only player able to extend a seeded player past three games in her match against 5-8 seed Daina King in the Ladies’ Open category.

Last night’s quarter-finals were expected to feature several intriguing matches.

Robert Fernandes would have had to rely on all his experience to turn back the challenge of two-time Caribbean junior champion Alexander Arjoon, while his sister Nicolette (Fernandes) who is also contesting the men’s category would have had to have a tricky assignment against a deceptive Jerazeno Bell.

In the Ladies’ Open category Mary Fung-A-Fat, Daina King and Chantelle Fernandes will all be harbouring thoughts of upsetting their respective opponents Ashley Khalil, Keisha Jeffrey and Kayla Jeffrey.

Action in the championships continues this evening at the same venue from 18:00 h.

The semifinals and finals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday (evenings) respectively.

In the Ladies’ results from Tuesday’s matches, Victoria Arjoon defeated Lydia Fraser 11-6, 11-6, 14-12; Chantelle Fernandes beat Ashley deGroot 11-9, 11-9, 12-10; Mary Fung-A-Fat defeated Gabrielle Fraser 11-2, 11-1, 11-0 and Daina King beat Alysa Xavier 11-4, 18-16, 5-11, 11-8.

In Men’s first round action, Kristian Jeffrey defeated Andy Goveia 11-2, 11-5, 11-2; Deje Dias beat Jason Ray Khalil 11-8, 11-1, 11-8; Alexander Arjoon made light work of Damian Fernandes, winning 11-4, 11-6, 11-3; Robert Fernandes defeated Steven Xavier 11-6, 11-6, 11-8; Nicolette Fernandes brushed aside Nyron Joseph 11-5, 11-0, 11-5; Bell defeated Nicholas Narain 11-4, 11-2, 11-0; Raphael deGroot defeated Alex Gouveia 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 and Regan Pollard beat Javier Grau 11-1, 11-7, 11-3.