TWO-TIME defending overall senior CASA Champions Guyana, made it three in row with a clean sweep of the team events after winning gold in Men’s, Women’s, Men’s Vets and Women’s Vets in this year’s tournament.

Played in the Cayman Islands, Guyana walked away with the winner’s trophy.
Guyana has been a dominant force in Caribbean Squash and has not lost the Women’s and Men’s team titles since 2017; the year it did not manage to win the overall title because the veterans did not do well.

“The overall title is always our goal but to do it in this manner, was quite surprising for us,” stated an elated Head Coach Ramon Chan-a-Sue, who played in the veterans’ category.
The US based Chan-a-Sue spoke about the standard of squash in this tournament.

“The squash was of a very high level with a lot of players who were absent last year, playing but also, some of the younger players began establishing themselves as forces in Caribbean squash.
“Our entire team contributed to the win…from the veterans to the lower order players on the Men’s and Women’s teams. A great team performance.
“It all hasn’t sunk in yet but I am very excited for our team and what they have accomplished. I don’t think they realised what they did,” continued an elated coach.
Chan-a-Sue who has been National Coach for the last decade, said the team’s biggest worry came when Nicolette Fernandes picked up an ankle injury in the semi-finals of the individuals.
“We had to default the mixed doubles to give her a shot at playing the individual final later that night.

We were very concerned she would be done for the tourney but we were able to get her treatment and then we decided to move her over to the veteran’s category, disclosed Chan-a-Sue.
The Coach said that some of the players played beyond his expectations.

“That we brought in seven different players from last year’s team and managed to perform better than last year, is in itself exceptional.
This team was even better and more balanced. Also, the resiliency of our players who just faced every challenge head on and completed the job,” revealed Chan-a-Sue
“Our vets, Jerry Bell in the Men’s Over 40 and Indira Welingkar in the Women’s over 60… were outstanding while Mary Fung A Fat, Ashley Khalil, Alex Arjoon and Jason Ray Khalil played excellent squash throughout the tournament.

I don’t think we realise how special this is…to win three overall titles in a row… and to dominate all the categories as we did on the team side. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone on this team,” informed Chan-a-Sue.

According to the Coach, a few members returned home on Sunday night but the rest will hopefully make it home tonight as flights were difficult to come by to get everyone home at once.
He thanked the team’s main sponsors ENet, Cage Guyana, GOA and Ansa McAl for their support in enabling the team to compete in this event.
There are no international tournaments scheduled until next year’s CASA but we will be looking to have them play some individual tournaments around the Caribbean,” concluded the Coach