On the first day of the fifth annual GUMDAC Open doubles badminton tournament, Priyanna Ramdhani and Shivanie Persaud teamed up to take the top prize of the female division at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue on Friday.
The event, which signals the commencement of the 2018 local badminton season got off to a flying start with the champion duo defeating Jayde DaSilva and Deandrea Assing: 21-4, 21-6 in the opening round of the round robin stage which turned into an eventual eliminator. In the second match up, Ayanna Wickham-Watson and Emelia Ramdhani defeated DaSilva and Assing: 21-6, 21-2 to book the finals against the Ramdhani-Persaud duo.
Priyanna Ramdhani and Persaud then took the accolade by winning a splendid match against Wickham-Watson and Emelia Ramdhani: 21-15, 21-15.
Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles Open, Nicholas Bullen and Veerendra Bhagwandin combined to defeat Sekher Mallampati and Isaac Mallampati: 21-11, 21-14 but were beaten by Ernesto Choo-A-Fat and Javid Rahaman 21-11, 21-15 in the quarter finals.
Open top players Jonathan Mangra and Ronald Chang Yuen defeated the Under-13 Champions Matthew Beharry and Vikash Mootoo: 21-8, 21-8.
President of the Guyana Badminton Association and coach, Gokaran Ramdhani pointed out that the two brave young players were fearless playing against the seniors.
Veteran William Holder and Haymant Ramdhani defeated Akili Haynes and Russia-based Chet Bowling in an exciting three setter: 21-16, 18-21, 16-21 while Darrell Carpenay & Marlon Chung defeated Gokarn Ramdhani and Dr. Nicholas Waldron: 21-9, 21-16
In the Open men’s semi-final, Carpeny and Chung defeated Choo-A-Fat and Rahaman: 24-22, 21-8 to book their final spot.
The second semi final and play off as well as the final of the men’s Open and also the mixed double Open matches will be played at the same venue.
