CARIBBEAN Junior Girls’ badminton champion Priyanna Ramdhani, has reached across barriers to play in the Men’s doubles and made it all the way to the final with partner, Avinash Odit, in the GUMDAC Annual Open Doubles, when the 2017 badminton season commenced last Wednesday. Played at the National Gymnasium, the first day of competition also saw Ramdhani win in the Ladies’ doubles, where she teamed up with Greer Jackson. In the open Mixed doubles she will join forces with Jonathan Mangra.
Due to lack of competition in the Ladies’ division, Ramdhani is being allowed to play in the men’s competition to keep up her top form, according to a press release from the Guyana Badminton Association.
Though unusual, it is not the first time something like this has been done. In squash, Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes has played in the men’s competition before.
Ramdhani and Odit made it into the final after ousting Marlon Chung and partner Ronald Yen in 21-15, 21-16 semi-finals match-up.
The duo also had an earlier win when they took out veterans George Melville and Leslie Lui 21- 11, 21-15.
The other men’s doubles semi-final win went to Nicholas Ali and partner Jonathan Mangra. Ali and Mangra won 21-18, 21-18 sets against the pair of Gokarn Ramdhani and Javid Rahaman.
In other wins in the quarter-finals Chung and Yuen defeated Tyrese Jeffrey and Akili Haynes 21-7, 21-10, while Gokarn and Javid prevailed against Stephan Murdilall and Haymant Ramdhani 21-9, 21-13.
In the only Ladies’ doubles match of the day Priyanna and Jackson triumphed 21-5, 21-9 over Emelia Ramdhani and Ayanna Watson.
In the open Mixed doubles final Priyanna and Mangra will take on Ali and Jackson.
Priyanna and Odit were on opposite ends in their Mixed doubles match-up. Odit teamed up with Angelica Holder and lost 19-21, 12-21 to Priyanna and Mangra.
The tournament continues tonight at 18:00hrs with play-offs in the finals and third-place matches along with the presentation of prizes.
The tournament, being played for the 5th year, is sponsored by GUMDAC through Managing Director Darrell Carpenay, who is also an executive on the GBA.