GUMDAC Easter Badminton tournament…

The GBA’s GUMDAC-sponsored three-night Badminton tournament commenced on Thursday with many ‘old stagers’ returning to the sport after long periods of self-imposed exile.
The tournament, which is being held at the National Gymnasium attracted several young ‘first timers as well.

Watched by a sizable gathering, the night’s first round in the women’s ‘doubles’ was between Guyana’s best female player 22-year-old Priyanna Ramdhani and the 30-year-old Caribbean Squash Queen Ashley Khalil.

Khalil who in 2007 was the National Champion in both Badminton and Squash at the U15, U17 & U19 levels was paired with Anna Perrier while Ramdhani, currently ranked 308 among the world’s best female Badminton players, had Mishka Beharry as her partner.

Ramdhani, who represented Guyana at the International level with success and Kahlil, returning to Badminton for the first time in 15 years were the dominant players among the pairs.
Khalil showing a bit of ‘ring rust’ could not return of few of Ramdhani’s clinical ‘smashes’ while Khalil scored most of her points, expertly landing her ‘drop shots’ to ‘left court’ where Beharry failed to reach them.

Ramdhani, who returned last month from Cuba after reaching the quarter-finals of the Cuba International Badminton tournament there, showed her class here.
In the end, Ramdhani & Beharry were too good for their opposition winning 21-15, 21-17.
In the other Women’s ‘Doubles’ games Neveah Eastman and Malia Haley beat Aaliyah Bacchus and Tyra Gomes 21-17, 21-12.
The competition continued last evening with finals to be contested today.

Full results below
Alimah and Asiyah Eastman beat Leshaunte Berkley and Gabriella Felix 21-15, 21-17.
Shivannie Persaud and Ayanna Watson beat Genieve Bookram and Gianna Ramnarine 21-13, 21-4.
Ashley Khalil and Anna Perreira beat Priyanka Shivnauth and Joanne Tan 21-7, 21-3.
Leshaunte Berkley and Gabrielle Felix beat Priya Henry and Jefina James 21-1, 21-6.

In men’s doubles:
Akili Haynes and Tyrese Jeffrey beat Shane Birkett and Percival Chester 21-1, 21-5
Troxley Cutting and Grandison Robinson beat Gavin Cao and Lim Haut Tat 21-12, 21-3.
Colin Bowry and Jahiem Carmichael beat Leslie Liu and Hemant Ramdhani 21-6, 21-13.
Avinash Odit and Javid Rahaman beat Yonneil Benjamin and Christopher Jordon 21-5,21-7.
Nkosi Beaton and Frank Waddle beat Vinai Datt and Mohamed Farouk 21-6, 21-3.
Matthew Klautky and Omkar Persaud beat Marcus Samuels and Jamal Sinclair 18-21, 22-20, 20-21, 21-16.
William (Billy) Holder and Jason-Ray Khalil beat Andrew Browne and Jason Stephney 21-13, 21-16.
Wenyuan Chen and Marlon Chung beat Vishal Gopaul and Haresh Persaud 21-5, 21-10.
Gavin Cao and Lim Huat Tat beat Gabriel Felix and Nicolas Pollard 21-12, 21-18.
Leslie Liu and Hemant Ramdhani beat Ruel Rambiriche and Avinash Ramnarine 21-15, 21-10.
Matthew Klautky and Omkar Persaud beat Ethan Bulkan and Edgar Bulkan 21-8, 21-4.
William (Billy) Holder and Jason-Ray Khalil beat Jonathan Robinson and Raah Russell 21-12, 21-12.

Mixed Doubles:
Akili Haynes and Priyanna Ramdhani beat Shane Birkett and Ihatiah Frank 21-1, 21-1.
Jason-Ray Khalil and Ashley Khalil beat Yonneil Benjamin and Aaliyah Bacchus 21-12, 21-2.
Wenyuan Chen and Shivannie Persuad beat Vishal Gopaul and Gabrielle Felix 21-12, 21-12.
Nkosi Beaton and Anna Perreira beat Colin Bowry and Priya Henry 21-12, 21-13.
Tyrese Jeffrey and Ambika Ramraj beat Avinash Ramnarine and Neveah Eastman 21-8, 21-9.
Frank Waddell and Leshaunte Berkley beat Egan Bulkan and Roseann Bulkan 21-7, 21-13.
Nikolas Pollard and Alimah beat Jahiem Carmichael 21-12, 13-21, 21-14.
Avinash Odit & Mishka & Raah Russell beat Tyra Gomes 21-7, 21-9.
Yonneil Benjamin & Aaliyah Bacchus got a walk-over from Anthony Stephens & Asiyah Eastman.
Colin Bowry & Priya Henry beat Ruel Rambiriche & Gianna Ramnarine 21-17, 21-13.
Frank Waddle & Leshaunte Berkley beat Jason Stephney & Harshini Muralidharan 21-16, 21-19.
Jahiem Carmichael & Jefina James beat Omkar Persaud & Genieve Bookram 21-13, 21-13.
Raah Russell & Tyra Gomes beat Gabriel Felix & Malia Haley 21-12, 16-21, 21-7