THE Guyana Boys’ team are expected to move into today’s semi-finals of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships after they finished second in their group, on Thursday, while the Girls’ team yesterday continued matches against the Barbados team in defence of their title.

Comprising Under-15 champion Benjamin Mekdeci, Under-17 champion Nyron Joseph, Jean-Claude Jeffrey, Steven Xavier and Shomari Wiltshire, the Guyana Boys’ team went under 2-3 against Jamaica, but managed to rebound with a 5-0 against the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) team later that day.
According to results from team manager Garfield Wiltshire, it was all smooth sailing for Guyana Boys when they came up against the OECS boys, as Xavier secured a walkover while the other four boys all locked in 3-0 wins against their respective opponents.
Though he could not manage a win against him to get past the Boys Under-13 semifinals, Wiltshire exacted revenge when he once again came up against Kai Bentick in the Team round; Joseph played Jason Doyle, Jeffrey took a win against Eswan Ross, while Mekdeci played Geronimo Ross.
In their loss against Jamaica, Wiltshire and Mekdeci were the only ones who netted in wins as the team went under. Wiltshire beat Adam Ardito 3-1, and Mekdeci defeated Tahjia Lumley 3-0.
Notwithstanding a win against Julian Morrison in the Boys’ Under-19 quarterfinals, Guyana’s Steven Xavier could not overcome the blows to record a win for the team as he lost 0-3. Joseph lost 1-3 to Jake Mahfood, and Jeffrey lost 2-3 to Ashante Smith.
Guyana Girls’ team defence was upheld by Makeda Harding, Akeila Wiltshire, Gabrielle Fraser, Rebecca Low and team captain Victoria Arjoon. The team started off by beating the Bermuda Girls’ 3-2. Harding lost 0-3 against Charlotte Toogood, and Low lost 2-3 against Olivia Lindsey; Wiltshire, Arjoon and Fraser all won 3-0 against Tiye Williams, Emma Keane, and Susanna Armano, respectively.
The semi-final matches are expected to finish today