GSA/GT&T senior national championships

By Stabroek News On In Sports |
Back in the Game:Nicolette Fernandes (rear right) plays a graceful backhand stroke against Daina King (front left) during the first match of her emphatic return to the sport after being sidelined for more than a year through a knee injury. (Clairmonte Marcus photo)
Back in the Game:Nicolette Fernandes (rear right) plays a graceful backhand stroke against Daina King (front left) during the first match of her emphatic return to the sport after being sidelined for more than a year through a knee injury. (Clairmonte Marcus photo)

-Fernandes disposes of first male opponent

Joe Mekdeci became the first male to exit the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Guyana Telephone & Telegraph-sponsored  senior national championships by the delicate but deadly hands of the lone female in this year’s men’s category, Nicolette Fernandes  on Wednesday night at the Georgetown Club.

Back in the Game:Nicolette Fernandes (rear right) plays a graceful backhand stroke against Daina King (front left) during the first match of her emphatic return to the sport after being sidelined for more than a year through a knee injury. (Clairmonte Marcus photo)Mekdeci’s demise was in no way considered an upset, but rather a certainty which Fernandes made no mistake in ending in a matter of minutes 9/1 9/1 9/0.

Fernandes also played in the women’s category earlier that evening when she made quick work of national junior player Daina King in straight games (9/2 9/1 9/0) .

Jason-Ray Khalil too bid the competition a speedy exit after failing to give a good account of himself  against  two-time Caribbean Junior Champion Alex, Arjoon while Kayla Jeffrey could not stage the upset against 2007 Caribbean U-15 champion Ashley Khalil who sent her packing  9/4 10/8 9/3.

All the rest of the top seeds held their ground and progressed to the next round in commanding fashion closing out their opponents in straight games.

The other winners from Wednesday night’s matches included Kristian Jeffrey, Oliver Downes, Regan Pollard, Jerozeno Bell, Robert Fernandes, Tiffany Solomon, and Keisha Jeffrey.

Results:

Men’s Open second round

Kristian Jeffrey defeated Juan Carlos Lazo 9/0 9/0 9/3

Oliver Downes defeated Deje Dias 9/1 9/4 9/6

Regan Pollard defeated Peter deGroot 9/2 9/1 9/1

Jerozeno Bell defeated Damian Fernandes 9/4 9/2 9/2

Raphael deGroot defeated Allan Downes 10/8 9/1 9/6

Nicolette Fernandes defeated Joe Mekdeci 9/1 9/1 9/0

Alexander Arjoon defeated Jason Ray Khalil 9/0 9/0 9/1

Robert Fernandes received a walkover from Luca Palazzotto

Ladies’ Open quarter-finals

Tiffany Solomon defeated Victoria Arjoon 9/1 9/6 10/8

Keisha Jeffrey defeated Mary Fung-A-Fat 9/5 10/9 9/3

Nicolette Fernandes defeated Daina King 9/2 9/1 9/0

Ashley Khalil defeated Kayla Jeffrey 9/4 10/8 9/3

Men’s Plate

Stefan Jeffrey defeated Lee Fung-A-Fat  9/2 9/0 9/2

Jean-Claude Jeffrey defeated Jason Van Dyk 9/0 9/0 9/6

Nyron Joseph received a walkover Kiev Chesney

Ladies’ Consolation

Lydia Fraser defeated Kristina King 9/6 9/6 2/9 9/6