THE Guyana Squash Association (GSA) celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sunday by making history. It officially launched its Hall of Fame and inducted six legends who shaped the sport’s identity.
The gala event brought together multiple generations of athletes and saw former world-ranked professional, Nicolette Fernandes, headline the prestigious inaugural ‘Class of 2025’ Hall of Fame intake.
Fernandes, the country’s most decorated player, was inducted alongside five other pioneering figures: Ron Hughes, Josephine Whitehead, Mike Watkinson, Carl Ince, and Madhu Wellingkar.
The six names now occupy a permanent, dedicated space on the wall at the National Racket Centre, designed to remind us of the dedication required to reach the pinnacle of Guyanese squash.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles S. Ramson Jr., was present to applaud the GSA’s move. He stated that the Hall of Fame is not just a recognition of legends but a “catalyst to awaken dreams.” He urged other national sporting bodies to follow the GSA’s lead in celebrating their icons.
GSA President, David Fernandes, congratulated the inductees on their “stellar contributions,” encouraging younger players to use their success as a motivator to excel on the international stage.
The association also used the landmark occasion to establish the Guyana Squash Archival Project (GSAP), a new committee tasked with permanently chronicling and preserving the history and legacy of Guyanese squash.
In a forward-looking address, the GSA reaffirmed its future ambitions, announcing a challenge to move from its current dominant status within the Caribbean to significantly impacting the wider Pan American region, with a core focus on developing its junior programme.
In a special recognition ceremony, long-standing squash administrator and supporter, Dennis Dias, received a special award for his contributions to the community over the past 50 years.