By Kiev Chesney
The cooperative efforts of Warriors’ Jason–Ray Khalil, Ashley Khalil, Ashley deGroot, Ryan Da Silva and Gisele Fernandes proved successful as the team overcame fierce competition to be crowned champions of the 2008 Smalta squash team tournament which concluded yesterday at the Georgetown Club’s courts. Second place was occupied by team Rip-it which consisted of Nicholas Narain, Joshua Abdool, Jason Van Dyk, Shaquille Bowen and Kristina Cheeks.
During the final matches of the tournament, first string Jason-Ray Khalil held his composure to pull off a huge victory against Rip-It’s first string Narain.
And, 2008 Junior Sportswoman-of-the-year, Ashley Khalil, took revenge on Joshua Abdool (who had defeated her in the Toucan Industries junior tournament) by producing brilliant squash to upset Abdool and help her team at crunch time. Another key victory came from third string Ashley deGroot, who went up against the odds to defeat male counterpart Jason Van Dyk of team Rip-It. The Buffalo Soljah’s, which consisted of Deje Dias, Mary Fung-A-Fat, Jean Claude Jeffrey, Samantha Fernandes and Patrick Fraser, managed to secure the third place finish ahead of Power Strangers and Skid Marks. Second string Mary Fung-A-Fat completed a huge upset over Power Stranger’s Daina King in one of the deciding third place matches between the two teams on yesterday’s final day. In the Novices category `A’, Rebecca Xavier captured the first place trophy while Matthew Phang and Alec Melville finished second and third respectively.
Tricia Mannilall won Category `B’ of the Novices category while Taylor Fernandes and Meshon Persaud finished second and third respectively.
Ashley Khalil was adjudged most valuable player of the tournament after she managed to remain undefeated throughout.
