GSA Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary squash tourney…
- Alex Arjoon and Nicolette Fernandes also make cut
THE Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary Squash Tournament continued at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue on Saturday from noon to just after 20:30hrs or 8:30 PM, with exhilarating squash.
Following the semifinals, Jason Ray Khalil will battle Alex Arjoon in the Men’s singles final, while his sister Ashley Khalil will face the evergreen Nicolette Fernandes in the Women’s Final.
Emily Fung-a-Fat will match skills with Kaylee Lowe in the Junior Girls Final. The Junior Boys Final will be between Elthan Bulkan and Joshua Verwey.
Watched by a small crowd that included GOA President Godfrey Munroe, GSA President David Fernandes, and the GTA President Christy Campbell (all members of the NSC) in the air-conditioned venue.
Fung-a-Fat, back home from a PSA world tour, lost to 42-year-old two-time World Masters Champion Nicolette Fernandes in the semi-final in an epic battle between, arguably, the two best female players in Guyana.
Mary, who turns 32 two days before Guyana celebrates its 60th Independence Anniversary, pushed the eight-time Guyana Sportswoman of the year with some good rallies, but lost 9-11 in the first stanza.
Nicolette executed nice drives and expertly placed drop shots to win 11-9, 11-8, 11-4.
The most action-packed match of the night was between Nicholas Verwey, back in competitive squash after over two years of a self-imposed break from the sport. Nicholas matched Jason shot for shot.
Both players complained about the referee’s calls as they played a passionate game of Squash to take the match to five games, punctuated by very long rallies and powerful backhand drives, as well as clever lobs.
The ‘pumped up’ Nicholas loudly reprimanded himself when he drilled a drive into the Tin and later did not agree with a call for ‘let’ in the high-intensity game.
Jason Ray demonstrated an excellent nick that ‘died’ as the ball hit the corner of the wall to win the game 11-7.
The taller Nicholas used his longer reach to keep the ball in play as long rallies continued. Jason Ray looked frustrated when he missed a drop shot with Nicholas stranded at the back of the court at 10-10. Nicholas would win the second game 12-10.
Jason Ray would win the game 11-7 before Nicholas levelled the score 2-2, winning the fourth game 11-9.
However, the extra resulted in him straining his thigh. The physio applied some ointment to it.
After a few moments, the ointment spread towards his groin area, which began to burn. Nicholas rushed off the court and used an empty court to drop his pants to relieve the pain.
With both players starting to tire, an energy-sapping battle ensued. The game went to three ‘Match points’ with Jason Ray winning the match 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 14-12, to prompt a standing ovation from the small gathering.
Ashley Khalil defeated Kirsten Gomes, 11-2, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5 to advance to the Final.
Ashley is also competing in the Badminton tournament at the National Gymnasium and has also reached the Final of the Woman’s Singles.
Alex Arjoon beat Jamaican Ashante Smith, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 to qualify for the Men’s Final.
Results:
Junior Boy’s Singles Elite
[1] Ethan Bulkan defeated [6] Kristian Viapree 11-2, 11-7, 11-5
Junior Boy’s Singles Elite
[3] Justin Ten Pow defeated [5] Giovanni Grant 11-3, 11-3, 11-2
Junior Boy’s Singles Elite
[4] Joshua Verwey defeated [5] Nicholas Mohamed 11-2, 11-0, 11-1
Junior Girl’s Singles Elite
[1] Emily Fung A Fat defeated [8] Fola Cadogan 11-2, 11-1, 11-1
Junior Girl’s Singles Elite
[6] Paige Mendonca defeated [3] Safirah Sumner 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5
Junior Girl’s Singles Elite
[5] Malia Maikoo defeated [4] Rylee Rodrigues 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5
Junior Girl’s Singles Elite
[2] Kaylee Lowe defeated [7] Mandisa Munroe 11-1, 11-2, 11-3
Women’s Singles- Elite
[3] Mary Fung-A-Fat defeated [6] Akeila Wiltshire 11-5, 11-4, 11-2
Women’s Singles- Elite
[4] Kirsten Gomes defeated [5] Larissa Wiltshire 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6
Women’s Singles- Elite
[2] Ashley Khalil (Demerara-Mahaica) defeated [8] Emily Fung A Fat 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Women’s Singles- Elite
[1] Nicolette Fernandes defeated [7] Abosaide Cadogan 11-4, 11-1, 11-3
Men’s Singles- Elite
[2] Alex Arjoon (Demerara-Mahaica) defeated [7] Steven Xavier 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
Men’s Singles- Elite
[3] Ashante Smith defeated [6] Peter de Groot 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
Junior Boy’s Singles Elite
[4] Joshua Verwey defeated [2] Egan Bulkan 3-11, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8
Junior Girl’s Singles Elite
[1] Emily Fung A Fat defeated [6] Paige Mendonca 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
Junior Boy’s Singles Elite
[1] Ethan Bulkan defeated [3] Justin Ten Pow 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8
Junior Girl’s Singles Elite
[2] Kaylee Lowe defeated [5] Malia Maikoo 11-9, 11-5, 11-9
Women’s Singles- Elite
[1] Nicolette Fernandes defeated [3] Mary Fung-A-Fat 11-9, 11-8, 11-4
Men’s Singles- Elite
[2] Alex Arjoon (Demerara-Mahaica) defeated [3] Ashante Smith 11-5, 11-6, 11-6
Women’s Singles- Elite
[2] Ashley Khalil (Demerara-Mahaica) defeated [4] Kirsten Gomes 11-2, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5
Men’s Singles- Elite
[1] Jason-Ray Khalil defeated [4] Nicholas Verwey 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 14-12
