THE DIGICEL Senior National Squash Championship got under way on Wednesday evening with three matches at the Georgetown Club Squash Courts. The 13-year-old Antony Islam defeated senior Yang Hapoei 3-2. His win came via his improving form and fitness, ending the match 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 marking an impressive comeback.
The evening’s second game saw veterans Alwyn Callender and Pedro Towers go head-to-head with the former claiming victory 11-2, 11-7, 11-9.
Callender’s style of play never allowed Towers to settle as he made certain he closed the game just as his opponent was approaching his best form on the night.
Daniel Islam showed promise in his matchup with veteran Medhi Ramdhani, but in the end was treated to an exhibition of experienced ball placement, most noticeable in the first two games. As the match moved into the third game the fitness of youth was enough for Islam to wrest away that game 11-7.
As the metaphorical grey hairs started to show for the former badminton player, Islam was able to secure a 4th game win, before the winded veteran secured victory, 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 13-11.
The tournament continues today with several junior players seeking to unsettle a plethora of experienced seniors.
President of the Guyana Squash Association, David Fernandes, speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on the opening evening of the event, said that he expects the tournament to be a high-level one with some of the junior guys stepping up to the plate.
“We have a lot of great players like Ashley Khalil and Ashley De Groot (in the ladies) and Jason Ray Khalil and others in the male end of things, so we expect a great and intense weekend of Squash.”