…David Fernandes says 2022 was best year for squash
By Sean Devers
‘THE Junior team excelled while the senior team did very well, while individual players performed brilliantly throughout the year, so for that reason I would say that 2022 was one of our best years’.

These were the words of Guyana Squash Association (GSA) vice-president David Fernandes who had previously been at the helm of the GSA.

Fernandes informed that in junior CASA, boys’ team of Shomari Wilshire, Samuel Ince-Caravel, Nicholas Shiloh, Brenno Ben Phang, Michael Alphonso and Josh Verwey won gold.

The girls’ team of Kirsten Gomes, Abosaide Cadogan, Riley Rodrigues, Safirah Sumner, Avery Arjoon, Tiana Gomes, Milia Maikoo and Dwilene Coates also won gold as Guyana took the team title.

Shomari Wilshire (U-19), Nicholas Verwey (U-17) and Avery Arjoon (U-13) won gold while Kirsten Gomes (U-19), Mickey Alphonso (U-17), Safirah Summer (U-15) took silver with Tiana Edwards getting bronze.

In the Pan Am Squash Championships, Nicolette Fernandes won gold while the girls of Ashley Khalil, Nicolette Fernandes, Gabriella Fraser and Mary Fung-a-Fat, won bronze.

In Senior CASA, Guyana won the overall team gold as the men’s team of Shomari Wilshire, Alex Arjoon, Jason Ray Khalid, Samuel Ince-Caravel, Daniel Ince and Nyron Joseph won gold while the Women comprising Ashley Khalid, Ashley DeGroot, Taylor Fernandes, Akeila Wilshire and Victoria Abosaide also won gold.

Tiane Edwards, Ramon Chan-a-Sue, Bryan Young and Michelle Lowe represented Guyana in the Veterans Category.

The men’s doubles winners were Nyron Joseph and Jason Ray Khalid.

In the women’s singles; Ashley Khalid, Taylor Fernandes, Ashley DeGroot and Akeila Wilshire finished one to four, with Khalid beating Fernandes in the final in a repeat of Guyana’s National Open.

This was the first time that four ladies from the same country were contesting both semi-finals.

In the mixed doubles, Taylor Fernandes and Daniel Ince finished second.

The men’s over-40 winner was Ramon Chan-a-Sue while the women’s doubles was won by Ashley Khalid and Ashley DeGroot.

In the World Masters Over-35 Nicolette Fernandes won gold while Richard Chin copped bronze in the Masters over-50.

Towards the end the Verwey siblings (Joshua & Nicholas), Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, Mohryan Baksh and Kirsten Gomes participated in the Canadian and USA Junior Open while Samuel competed in the British Junior Open.

“I think everyone from youths right up to seniors did well and I think that once they keep up the good work no doubt that we can see squash again do well this year.

“The biggest challenge, and this is for all associations, is funding. We have continually had to seek funding.

“We are pleased that we have noticed in the last two years more and more the government has started to view sports an important to the identity as a nation and are willing to spend on all sports, not just squash, has begun to be given more support by the government which is a great thing but I think also there is a need for corporate sponsorship is important to the development of youth and Guyana as a nation in sport,” informed Fernandes.

“In terms in what I would like to see I think these things are coming together…more facilities and we need more coaches. One of the challenges is getting people to commit to coach. The time spent voluntarily is becoming less of a possibility so we have to find funding to pay coaches. Most countries in the world have qualified and skilled coaches.

Columbia is really an up and coming country in squash and their junior program has reaped the benefits they have worked on and I think that their coach who has come from Europe has done a great job.

Obviously coach Ince, our coach here in Guyana has done a fantastic job over the years but now he is in his 70s and looking to throttle back a bit and be behind the scenes” added the VP.
Fernandes disclosed that young Niron Joseph coming up but said that if the GSA wants to the sport to spread wider and will need more coaches.

“The media has supported us…yourself and Akeem Greene just to mention two individuals but we would like to see a bit more coverage of matches locally on TV.

E-networks has been doing a great job in promoting, not only squash, in terms of using their media to promote sports,” the GSA Executive posited.

“I want to thank the players, especially the senior players, who in 2022 took on more responsibility. We have young leaders of the sport going into the future who have already shown that they have the talent necessary to do it both in the management of the sport and the way they represent the country.

I think Guyana National Captain Alex Arjoon, one of the young reps on our committee…Dejay Dias along with others like Nicolette, Ashley Khalid have shown that the senior team is in good hands.

I would like to thank the sponsors who have helped us over the year, the ministry, the government and the Sports Commission for their support and Georgetown Club as well which is one of our main facilities and the parents for giving their kids an opportunity to be a part of a great sport and hopefully 2023 will see more amazing things happen,” Fernandes noted.

Fernandes informed there is a packed schedule for 2023 and that he is hoping that the youths are fitter, stronger and faster and perform even better this year and feels that if they put in the work, no doubt the GSA will achieve their goals.