TEN-year-old national U11 squash player Ethan Bulkan was among the winners on the opening night of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) National Junior Singles Badminton Tournament at the National Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.
The tournament which is sponsored by the National Sports Commission (NSC), has five categories (10 events) for Boys and Girls U11 through to U19 Singles. Trophies will be up for grabs for the first, second and semi-finalists in each category.
The three-night tournament concludes tomorrow and was officially declared open by Assistant Director of Sport Franklin Wilson who told the gathering that the GBA’s Executives had done a commendable job in organising and executing one of the best-run academies of the 12 core sports.
Vice-President of the GBA, Ayanna Watson stated that this event is a significant part of the Badminton Academy and will be a staple in the GBA’s annual calendar.
“This tournament is a significant part of the Badminton Academy and will be a staple in the GBA Calendar of Events annually. It also commemorates World Badminton Day which is celebrated worldwide by the Badminton community on July 5 each year,” informed Watson.
The Academy was launched on January 4, 2022, as a visionary project by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson. Minister Ramson’s vision for the Academy includes three stages: Nursery, tournaments and elite status.
“We at the GBA are proud to note that we have successfully reached the second stage and are rapidly approaching the third.
The Academy began at the Queen’s College Auditorium under national player Narayan Ramdhani, who created the Academy handbook which was presented to the Sports Minister along with former national player, Jonathan Mangra.
Currently, the Academy is being coached by national Players Priyanna Ramdhani, Akili Haynes, and Nkosi Beaton. The training sessions are conducted at Queen’s College, Bishops’ High, North Ruimveldt Multilateral, and North Georgetown Secondary School and Marian Academy.
In addition to the schools, we have practice sessions in Berbice, overseen by Mr. Colin Bowry and a few PE teachers. We are also delighted to announce that Linden has resumed practice sessions and two of their athletes are participating in this tournament. A big shout-out to them and the Berbicians present here today,” said Watson.
NSC’s Wilson handed over gear on behalf of the GBA to players from Linden and Berbice.
DAY 1 Results
GS U17: Harshini Muralidharan vs. Aaliyah Bacchus 21-9, 21-7
BS U19: Xavio Alexander vs. Joel Prince 21-4, 21-3
GS U11: Emma Ramsaran vs. Arianna Bassier 22-20, 21-6
BS U13: Ethan Ramsaran vs. Nathan Mohanlall 21-8, 21-11
BS U19: Christopher Jordan vs. Kunal Alert 21-15, 21-19
GS U17: Gabrielle Felix vs. Renicia Thom 21-8, 21-8
BS U19: Vishal Gopaul vs. Yonneil Benjamin 21-14, 21-18
BS U13: Ethan Bulkan vs. Liam Brumell 21-5, 21-9
BS U17: Xavio Alexander vs. Casey Beckles 21-4, 21-7
GS U17: Mishka Beharry vs. Anya Manickchand 21-5, 10-1
Retired
BS U17: Mohamed Farouk vs. Phillip Stephanas 21-19, 21-14
BS U11: Joel Rambiriche vs. Christopher Harrison 21-6, 21-1
GS U19: Malia Haley vs. Menikshi Jaikissoon 21-18, 14-21, 21-9
GS U19: Gabriella Henry vs. Ashanti Gordon 21-6, 21-11
BS U19: Reuel Rampersaud vs. Dan Stanton Walkover
BS U19: Avinash Ramnarine vs. Marcus Samuels Walkover
GS U11: Anjaneysa Godette vs. Arianna Bassier 21-3, 21-3
GS U19: Nevaeh Eastman vs. Aaliyah Bacchus 21-6, 21-3
GS U11: Riyo Alexander vs. Emma Ramsaran 21-3, 21-3
BS U19: Darion Thomas vs. Ronit Gulchand 21-19, 21-19
BS U15: Phillip Stephanas vs. Sergio Alexander 21-10, 21-16
BS U15: Mohamed Farouk vs. Casey Beckles 21-3, 21-10
GS U19: Leshaunte Berkley vs. Renicia Thom
GS U17: Malia Haley vs. Gabriella Henry
BS U17: Nikolas Pollard vs. Ronit Gulchand
BS U17: Gabriel Felix vs. Darion Thomas
BS U17: Avinash Ramnarine vs. Percival Chester
BS U17: Ruel Rambiriche vs. Marcus Samuels
BS U19: Frank Waddell vs. Dhanesh Persaud
BS U17: Christopher Jordan vs. Sergio Alexander
GS U17: Menikshi Jaikisson vs. Aaliyah Bacchus or Harshini Muralidharan
BS U19: Jonathan Debidin vs. Darian Thomas or Rohit Gulchand
BS U19: Amaan Khan vs. Percival Chester
BS U19: Gabriel Felix vs. Reuel Rampersaud or Dan Stanton
GS U19: Mishka Beharry vs. Gabriella Henry or Ashanti Gordon
BS U19: Nikolas Pollard vs. Vishal Gopaul or Yonneil Benjamin
BS U19: Jonathan Robinson vs. Marcus Samuels or Avinash Ramnarine
GS U17: Neveah Eastman vs. Gabrielle Felix or Renica Thom
BS U17 QF: X. Alexander or C. Beckles vs. M. Farouk or P. Stephanas
BS U19 QF: BS U19: Gabriel Felix vs. Reuel Rampersaud 21-3, 21-3
BS U19: Jonathan Robinson vs. Avinash Ramnarine 21-19, 22-24, 21
