The 2019 Caribbean Area Squash Association Junior championship gets underway today in Trinidad and Tobago with Guyana squarely focused on regaining the team’s overall title.
The quest for championship glory is anticipated on the back of Guyana’s 12-year dominance in the junior event which was widely chronicled before it came to an end in 2016 when Barbados dethroned the South Americans at home.
Since then, the Guyanese have been keen to reverse their fortunes. So much so that coach Carl Ince, who has been working closely with the group, called for a replica of the “hunger for success displayed in years gone by.”
He also remarked that the current bunch of players are as talented as any Guyana would have produced.
Guyana in the teams’ competitions will be led by the sensational Shomari Wiltshire with support from Daniel Islam, Michael Alphonso, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal and Nicholas Verwey in the male category while Abosaide Cadogan, Makeda Harding, Kirsten Gomes and Madison Fernandes will form a formidable female frontline.
Meanwhile, in the individual categories which begin today, Guyana is in contention for a number of podium finishes in each category. Wiltshire, who is contesting the boys under – 17 division, should easily come away with another title on the weight of his individual brilliance.
The others will have to work a notch harder for their success.
Alphonso, who in 2018 captured gold in the under – 13 category, has now graduated. His skill set and confidence should be able to land him in good stead. The swiftly rising Nicholas Verwey who is also contesting the boys under – 15 category is another strong performer and could spring a few surprises. He can possibly go all the way.
Mohryan Baksh who is the number two seeded player in the boys’ under 13 category is another strong prospect to land the top spot.
On the girls’ side, Christina Fernandes is one to watch in the girls under – 13 category. She heads into the tournament as the number two seeded player. Kirsten Gomes, another second-seeded player, will have to pull off something special to topple the reigning under – 15 girls champ Sumairaa Suliman of Barbados while Cadogan who is contesting the girls’ under – 17 category and Harding the girls’ under – 19 category are a few of the other strong title contenders.
