GUYANA’S four-member team to the World Squash Federation (WSF) world junior championships was part of a learning curve aimed directly at boosting the level of squash locally, says Guyana Squash Association (GSA) president David Fernandes. Guyana finished 17th at the 19-team tournament in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Against Zimbabwe who were also on their second outing, Akeila Wiltshire outclassed Carley Barton 11-1, 11-4, 11-2, while Gabrielle Fraser defeated Kuzivakwashe Madungwe 11-1, 11-2, 11-3.
In the other match-up against the Zimbabweans, Larissa Wiltshire got past Shannon O’Donovan 11-4, 11-1, 11-0, to help Guyana to a reputable placing at the marquee junior squash tournament. Taylor Fernandes was the other member of Team Guyana.
Fernandes, according to the GSA website, said that though the team did not produce the top results, there were still positives for Guyana.
“Last time we played was in 2011 in Boston, so it’s good to be back. It’s been good to see the girls improve as the tournament progressed; they were very nervous at the start but grew in confidence match by match. They played well against some strong teams like Germany and South Africa and could have won some of those games,” GSA boss said.
He (Fernandes) indicated that Guyana’s performance at the games has been a major confidence-booster, adding “It shows all the young players in Guyana and the Caribbean that the opportunity is there to play the best in the world, and to enjoy it.”
The competition wrapped up last Tuesday with Egypt emerging as champions; winning their fifth title and the United States coming in as runners-up.
Guyana were the only team from the South American and Caribbean Region, that featured the likes of Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong China, India, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland.