Coming off an impressive tournament win at the Bounty Farm Mash Handicap squash tournament last weekend, reigning national Under 19 champion Jason Ray Khalil is determined to work even harder for his next big test at the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA) National Senior Championships in July.
Khalil played with a perfect record during the recent handicap tournament, dispatching four opponents who possessed generous point advantages, without losing a single game. In his first round encounter Khalil won 33 consecutive points, while conceding only one point to his opponent in one of the games.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport on Monday, Khalil said that he was elated to have won the Bounty Farm Mash Handicap squash tournament for the second time in three years especially in such a convincing manner.
Playing with a -20 handicap was no easy task according to Khalil but it was safe, disciplined play that helped him get there.
“I knew that it wasn’t impossible and so when I realized that I could do it I just decided to settle down and play safe squash,” Khalil stated.
Khalil said that his success was a direct result of the training that he has been doing with seven-time sportswoman of the year Nicolette Fernandes.
According to Khalil, competing against Fernandes, who is ranked at number 31 in the world by the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association, forced him develop his game to stay competitive with her in training.
The habits he developed while playing against Fernandes are what he thinks made him into a better player.
“Right now I’m training with Nicolette and she is such a solid player (that) I had to change my game, and become tighter or more consistent with my shots,” Khalil said.
Khalil said that the entire experience had made him more aware of the deficiencies of his game which he is constantly working on improving.
“I would say (that) the deficiencies (in my game) were mainly mentally, in putting my game together in terms of shot selection and discipline on and off the court,” Khalil added.
The former junior sportsman of the year also stated that he currently is working on improving his fitness at Top End Performance Systems with local personal trainer Kezqweyah Yisrael and doing individual work on the court to sharpen his technique.
Khalil’s 19th birthday will be on July 15, just a week prior to the start of the Junior Caribbean Championships this year, which makes him ineligible to compete in the Under 19 category of the tournament. While he is a bit disappointed, Khalil said he knew that the tournament would be scheduled late in July rather than early as in previous years.
With this in mind, Khalil said that he had already geared his mind towards elevating his standards with the aim of being chosen to be a part of Guyana senior men’s team for the Caribbean Senior Championships which will be held in Guyana in August.
Khalil said that he it would mean a great deal to him if he made the team to compete at the senior championships. In order to make a case for selection, Khalil is aiming to win the GSA National senior championships in July.
The two-time defending champion is Alexander Arjoon, who plays at the collegiate level at Franklin and Marshall College in the US. Arjoon, who was recently named athlete of the week at his school, is expected to return to defend his title once again this year.
Once his training continues along this path, Khalil said that he will be eager to take on Arjoon for the national title which will be his toughest challenge.
“If that match materialises,” Khalil said, “it will be a great challenge and I know that if I can take an entire match from him on the biggest stage at nationals that would be a huge accomplishment for me knowing that all the work I put would have finally paid off,” he added.
Khalil is thankful for the encouragement of his father, Raymond Khalil, his personal trainer Yisrael and other persons close to him for his recent success.
