National Junior Badminton Championships
The Gumdac-sponsored National Junior Badminton Championships got underway last evening at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, with Xavio Alexander and Harshini Muralidaran among the winners following sublime performances.
The first four matches of the night were all lopsided, as the respective victors signalled their intent early on.
Defending Boys U19 Champion Alexander got his campaign off to a flawless start with a 21-4, 21-3 drubbing of Joel Prince. The latter had no answer to Alexander’s fierce forehand shots as the reigning category champion stamped his authority.
In the Girls U17 opening match, Muralidaran easily dispatched Aaliyah Bacchus in sets of 21-9 and 21-7.
In the Girls U11 opening clash, Emma Ramsarran and Ariana Bassier treated the gathering of spectators to a thriller in their opening set, which was played down to the wire.
However, Ramsarran managed to edge Bassier 22-20 and rebounded in the second set to close out the game 21-6.
Ethan Ramsarran, meanwhile, took first blood in the boys U13 opening game, seeing off Nathan Mohanlall in sets of 21-8 and 21-11.
Earlier during the opening ceremony, Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) Vice President, Ayanna Watson, underscored the importance of the Junior Championships.
“This tournament is a significant part of the Badminton Academy and will be a staple in the Guyana Badminton Association Calendar of Events annually. It also commemorates World Badminton Day which is celebrated worldwide by the Badminton community on July 5 each year”.
While the tournament forms part of the National Sports Academy, the brainchild of Sports Minister Charles Ramson, Watson hailed the project as visionary.
“The Academy was launched on January 4, 2022, as a visionary project by our Honourable Minister Ramson. Minister Ramson’s vision for the academy included three stages: a nursery, followed by tournaments, and culminating in elite status. We at the GBA are proud to note that we have successfully reached the second stage and are rapidly approaching the third,” she explained.
Results
GS U17: Harshini Muralidharan vs. Aaliyah Bacchus 21-9, 21-7
BS U19: Xavio Alexander vs. Joel Prince 21-4, 21-3
GS U11: Emma Ramsaran vs. Arianna Bassier 22-20, 21-6
BS U13: Ethan Ramsaran vs. Nathan Mohanlall 21-8, 21-11
BS U19: Christopher Jordan vs. Kunal Alert 21-15, 21-19
GS U17: Gabrielle Felix vs. Renicia Thom 21-8, 21-8
BS U19: Vishal Gopaul vs. Yonneil Benjamin 21-14, 21-18
BS U13: Ethan Bulkan vs. Liam Brumell 21-5, 21-9
BS U17: Xavio Alexander vs. Casey Beckles 21-4, 21-7
GS U17: Mishka Beharry vs. Anya Manickchand 21-5, 10-1 Retired
BS U17: Mohamed Farouk vs. Phillip Stephanas 21-19, 21-14
BS U11: Joel Rambiriche vs. Christopher Harrison 21-6, 21-1
GS U19: Malia Haley vs. Menikshi Jaikissoon 21-18, 14-21, 21-9
GS U19: Gabriella Henry vs. Ashanti Gordon 21-6, 21-11
BS U19: Reuel Rampersaud vs. Dan Stanton Walkover
BS U19: Avinash Ramnarine vs. Marcus Samuels Walkover
GS U11: Anjaneysa Godette vs. Arianna Bassier 21-3, 21-3
GS U19: Nevaeh Eastman vs. Aaliyah Bacchus 21-6, 21-3
GS U11: Riyo Alexander vs. Emma Ramsaran 21-3, 21-3
BS U19: Darion Thomas vs. Ronit Gulchand 21-19, 21-19
BS U15: Phillip Stephanas vs. Sergio Alexander 21-10, 21-16
BS U15: Mohamed Farouk vs. Casey Beckles 21-3, 21-10
