Mary Fung-A-Fat moved a giant leap closer to capturing her first national under 19 title after overpowering her main adversary Ashley deGroot on Thursday night at the Georgetown Club during the Woodpecker National Junior Squash Championships.
DeGroot began the match hitting superb shots, while Fung-A-Fat who had been impeccable the night before against Akeila Wiltshire, seemed nervous and got off to a slow start. Fung-A-Fat, the former Caribbean champion, found herself trailing 0/6 in the first game and deGroot was clearly in control of the tempo of the match. Nevertheless, Fung-A-Fat managed to draw within one-point of deGroot before deGroot won the game 11/9.
In the second game, deGroot continued to dominate, skillfully placing all her shots in the right spots and hitting winners at opportune moments. DeGroot claimed match ball at 10/3, but then the unbelievable occurred. Fung-A-Fat’s demeanor switched to that of a more composed player and the result was pure brilliance. Fung-A-Fat remarkably won the next seven points to tie the match and then held on to win 13/11. With confidence and momentum on her side, Fung-A-Fat comfortably won the next two games 11/6, 11/5 as deGroot’s accuracy that was displayed in the first two games had deteriorated.
Following the game, national coach Carl Ince stated that he was delighted by the impressive level of squash that he witnessed between the country’s top two under 19 competitors.
Meanwhile, Caribbean under 15 champion Nyron Joseph, who is competing in both the under 17 and under 19 category this year, continued to dominate his opponents on night three. In his first encounter of the night, Joseph disposed of Patrick Fraser in straight games, before he took advantage of Andrew Peroune using his superior mobility, shot selection and quickness. Peroune began the match hitting sharp, powerful shots and won the first two points of game one. The jaunty 15-year-old Joseph played a flambouyant ‘through the legs’ return in the backcourt which signaled his assuming of control of the match and from there he never looked back. Joseph conceded one more point in the first game and held Peroune scoreless in the following two (11/3, 11/0, 11/0). Joseph will be tested today (Saturday) as he faces long time rival Steven Xavier as well as emerging powerhouse and current Caribbean under 13 champion Benjamin Mekdeci.
Eight-year-old Shomari Wiltshire was similarly dominant against Anthony Islam in the under 13 category. Wiltshire almost held an opponent scoreless for the second straight night but Anthony Islam fought in the third and final game to steal two points from the son of former Caribbean squash champion Garfield Wiltshire. Number one under 19 contender Jason-Ray Khalil also dominated Joven Benn in straight games 11/4, 11/3, 11/5. Mekdeci remained undefeated after taking apart Matthew Phang 11/0, 11/2, 11/0. Taylor Fernandes also defeated Rebecca Low in the girls under 15 category, while Alec Melville edged Pablio Mundini.
The tournament which is organized by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration its number one corporate partner Digicel Guyana, will continue this morning beginning at 09:00hrs. The first session is expected to conclude at about 13:00hrs and the second session is expected to begin at 18:30hrs.
Thursday night’s results
Girls Under 19
Mary Fung-A-Fat defeated Ashley deGroot 9/11, 13/11, 11/6, 11/5
Boys under 17
Nyron Joseph defeated Patrick Fraser (3/0) and Andrew Peroune (3/0)
Boys Under 15
Ben Mekdeci defeated Matthew Phang 11/0, 11/2, 11/0
Patrick Fraser defeated Mahendra Khusial 11/8, 11/2, 11/0
Boys Under 13
Travis Whitehead defeated Dominic Collins 11/1, 11/0, 11/0
Shomari Wiltshire defeated Anthony Islam 11/0, 11/0, 11/2
Gianni Carpenter defeated Daniel Islam 11/8, 11/9, 11/9
Boys Under 19
Jason-Ray Khalil defeated Joven Benn 11/4, 11/3, 11/5
