Guyana’s Jason Ray Khalil made a winning start to his Pan American men’s Squash qualification campaign with victory over Darien Benn of Barbados in four sets on the opening day of the Pan American Qualifiers being played in Cartagena, Colombia.
Khalil lost the first set 6-11 but bounced back to take the other three sets 11-1, 11-9 and 11-1 in the round of 64. He will now square off against the world’s number one Diego Elias last evening in a tough round of 32 encounter.
Guyanese Alex Arjoon lost in three straight sets against Rafael Galvez of Peru 4-11, 6-12, 7-11 while his teammate Samuel Ince-Carvalhal also suffered defeat against Rafael Torrez of Bolivia in three sets 6-11, 10-12 and 11-13.
Nicolette Fernandes, the reigning World Masters Over-35 champion and six times Caribbean champion was scheduled to play Gishelle Delgado of Chile while Caribbean women’s champion Ashley Khalil will be looking to join her brother in winners’ row in her match against Martina Stefanoni of the United States of America.
The third Guyanese women Taylor Fernandes was schedule to play against Nikki Todd of Canada.
Taylor Fernandes and Ashley Khalil will team up to play Natalia Arancibia and Vanessa Rios of Bolivia in the women’s doubles.
Guyana will also be competing in the men’s doubles, mixed doubles and team matches in during the championships which will end on Saturday.
The Pan American qualifiers are being run off to identify contenders for the Pan American Games billed for October 20- November 5 in Santiago, Chile.
US-based former player and coach Ramon Chan-a-Sue is serving as Manager/Coach while Alwyn Callender is officiating as a referee.
