. …action shifts to team events today

By Sean Devers
Guyana’s Squash Coach, USA based Guyanese Ramon Chan-a-Sue, is disappointed that Guyana crashed out of individual Singles in both the Men’s and Women’s at the Pan Am Games qualifiers in Cartagena Columbia which commenced last Saturday and concludes on June 10.

Guyana now shifts to the Team event which starts today in hope of qualifying for the Pan Games from October 20 to November 5 in Chile.
Guyana still has opportunities to qualify for the Games in Chile in the doubles and mixed doubles later in the week but biggest hope lies in the women’s team event.

“We had a tough first day (Saturday) of competition in the individuals with only Jason Ray winning his first round match in the morning but then losing to World number 1 last night” lamented Coach Chan-a-Sue.

Led by Nicolette (Fernandes) and Ashley (Khalil) the Guyana foursome, which included Mary Fung-a-Fat and Taylor Fernandes are much more experienced from the four that qualified four years ago for the Peru Games.

However, in the Singles Ashley Khalil lost 3-0 to American Marina Stefanoni and Taylor Fernandes lost 3-0 the Canada’s Nikki Todd.
According to Coach Chan-a-Sue, Nicolette was upset by Giselle Delgado from Chile after winning the first two games 11-8, 11-5, but lost the last three 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 to loss the gruelling match 2-3.

“Nicolette was battling with an illness. Mary was not one of the three for Singles but will play an important role in the team event,” informed Chan-a-Sue who has been national senior Coach for the last nine years.

In the Men’s event, Canadian Rafael Galvez beat Alex Arjoon 3-0, Columbian Gabrial Torrez defeated Samuel Ince-Carvalhal 3-0. Jason Ray Khalil won his first round game but lost yesterday,
The important team event is scheduled to commence this afternoon.