The spectacular return to competitive squash by former three time Southern Caribbean men’s singles champion Garfield Wiltshire was ended by Ryan Rahaman yesterday at the Georgetown Club.
Competing in a quarter-final clash of the Open division, Wiltshire found the minus 20 handicap too big to overcome despite forcing the match into a three setter.
After dropping the first game 0-15 to Rahaman who started with a plus six advantage (six points) Wiltshire roared back to take the second 15-13 and force the match to a decisive third set.
But the exertion of having to win 35 points before Rahaman scored nine proved too much for him and he succumbed 8-15 in the third to end what would have been a storybook comeback by a player who seems to still have what it takes to be among the top men’s players in the country.
In other matches yesterday, Medhi Ramdhani (+8) beat Jonathan Antzak (+8) 12/15, 15/12, 17/16 while Robert Fernandes (-10) beat Nicholas Narain (+6) 15/13, 15/13.
Adam Alves exited what was turning out to be fine tournament for him in disappointing fashion giving Joshua Abdool a walkover.
In the Open Plate category, Jason Ray Khalil (-25) beat Ian Mekdeci (+8) 17/15, 15/12; Joven Benn (-8) beat Schelte Van Dyke (17/14, 15/11;
Ben Mekdeci (+4) defeated Patrick Fraser (+8) 15/13, 15/9 and Alyssa Xavier (+10) beat Steven Xavier (-8) 15/4, 13/15, 17/15.
In A Category Plate results; Travis Whitehead (+5) beat Jonathan Edwards (+11) 15/13, 17/14;
Samantha Fernandes ((+7) beat Taylor Fernandes (-5) 15/8, 15/3 and Justin Gomes got a walkover from John Phang.
On Friday evening in the Open category, Wiltshire (-20) had beaten Ashley Khalid (-5) 15/10, 15/9 while Rahaman (+6) beat Christopher Lowe (+10) 13/15, 18/16, 16/14.
Ramdhani (+8) beat Nyron Joseph (-8) 15/5, 15/-2;
Antzak (+8) beat Lee Fung-A-Fat (+8) 15/13, 15/13; Nicholas Narain (+6) beat David Fernandes (+11) 15/12, 15/12; Robert Fernandes (-10) beat Ashley De Groot (+2) 15/12, 15/9;
Joshua Abdool (+2) beat Steven Persaud (+10) 15/12, 15/11 and Alves (+8) beat Mary Fung-A-Fat (0) 15/3, 15/7.
In the A category matches, Alec Melville (-10) beat Jonathan de Groot (-70 6/15, 15/13, 15/7
Haopei Yang (+20 beat Maya Collins (+13) 15/13, 16/14; Andrew Peroune (-10) beat Rebecca Lowe (+9) 17/15, 16/14 and Alexandra Phang (+11) beat Mahendra Khusial (0) 15/7, 15/8.
In Open Category Plate matches, Ian Mekdeci (+8) beat Philip Fernandes (+8) 15/11,16/17,15/11; Jason Ray Khalil gained a walkover from Mike Atherley; Joven Benn (-8) beat Ryan Mc Kinnon (+12) 15/13,15/13; Patrick Fraser (+8) beat Mikhail Carto (+8) 15/11,13/15,15/10 and Steven Xavier (-8) beat Pablo Mundini (+8) 13/15,15/11,15/13.
Last evening the semi-finals were set to take place while the finals of all the events will take place at the Georgetown Club from 11.00 am today.
