Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 08, 2014 Sports
The curtains came down on Sunday on the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Digicel National Senior Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club squash courts.
Defending champion Alex Arjoon retained his crown with a masterful performance over Former Caribbean Champion and No 1 seed Richard Chin. Mary Fung A Fat was clinical in the securing of her first National Title with victory over up-coming junior player Akeila Wiltshire.
Joe Mekdeci won the Veterans 35-49 category, while Alwyn Callender secured the Veterans Over-50 Title.
In the Men’s final Chin quickly took an early 5 points to 2 lead and after numerous long rallies won the first game 11 – 6. He again took an early lead in the second game but then Arjoon started to move Chin more around the court and to volley more and won a close second game 11 – 8. Chin jumped out to a quick 5 – 1 lead in the third game but after several brutal rallies with the lead changing from one person to the other Arjoon was finally able to win the third game 12 – 10. Chin was obviously beginning to tire and the heat of the midday match was obviously affecting both players, but Arjoon held his nerve and after almost an hour of intense squash he won the fourth game 11 – 6 and the match 3 – 1.
In the Women’s final Mary Fung A Fat was all business and definitely was looking to finish the match as quickly as possible. Fung A Fat was quickly out to a 6 – 3 lead. Wiltshire won the next two points but Fung A Fat then won the next five points to take the first game 11 – 5. Both players were playing extremely well and the game was extremely close now. No player held more than a two point lead. At 7 – 5 it looked as if Wiltshire would take the second game but Fung A Fat would have none of it as she won the next five points before Wiltshire could secure another then closed out the game 11 – 8. The same trend continued in the third game and with Wiltshire again being up this time at 9 – 7 it looked as if the match would go into a fourth game but Fung A Fat won the next four points and the game 11 – 9 and the match 3 – 0.
In the Veterans 35 – 49 final Alwyn Callender was looking to be a double champion having already won the Veterans Over-50 title. Callender won a close first game 11 – 8 but Mekdeci responded with an emphatic 11-2 game win in the second game. The third game was closer but Mekdeci still managed to win it 11-7. Callender quickly jumped out to an 8 – 2 lead in the fourth game and Mekdeci could get no closer than 6 as Callender won the fourth game 11 – 6. The fifth and deciding game was close throughout and with Callender leading 9 – 6 it seemed as if he would indeed be a double champion but Mekdeci was not to be denied and won the next five points and the game 11 – 9 to win the match 3 – 2.
In the Men’s third place match, Jason Ray Khalil defeated Nyron Joseph 3 games to one. Khalil quickly won the first game 11 – 4 but Joseph settled into the match and won the second game 11 – 7. The third game was close throughout but Khalil eventually prevailed 11 – 9 and from being down 7 – 6 in the fourth game Khalil won the next five points to take the game 11 – 7 and the victory 3 games to one.
In the Women’s third place contest Ashley De Groot rebounded from her upset loss in the semi-finals to Akeila Wiltshire to convincingly beat younger sister Larissa Wiltshire in straight games 11- 6, 11 – 4, 11 – 4. In the Men’s Classic Plate final Deje Dias used all of his experience and guile to upset young junior player Ben Mekdeci three games to one. Ben must rue the loss of the first game as he never recovered after that. At 10 – 2 up in the first game he mentally relaxed and Deje clawed his way back and won the next 8 straight points and eventually the game 13 – 11. Deje then won the second game 11 – 8 and even though Ben won the third game 11 – 8 he was physically drained and lost the fourth game 11 – 3.
Victoria Arjoon was the winner of the Ladies Plate with victory over Kathy Ten-Pow in straight games 12 – 10, 11 – 5, 11 – 9.
Prizes were presented to the winners by Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope, who congratulated the GSA for a wonderfully organized tournament and informed all present about the recently signed deal committing Digicel to another three year partnership with the Guyana Squash Association.
Final day results:
Men’s Open
Alex Arjoon beat Richard Chin 6 – 11, 11 – 8, 12 – 10, 11 – 6
Jason Ray Khalil beat Nyron Joseph 11 – 4, 7 – 11, 11 – 9, 11 – 7
Women’s Open
Mary Fung A Fat beat Akeila Wiltshire 11 – 5, 11 – 8, 11 – 9
Ashley De Groot beat Larissa Wiltshire 11 – 6, 11 – 4, 11 – 4
Men’s Classic Plate
Deje Dias beat Ben Mekdeci 13 – 11, 11 – 8, 8 – 11, 11 – 3
Nicholas Narain won by walkover from Regan Pollard
Women’s Plate
Victoria Arjoon beat Kathy Ten-Pow 12 – 10, 11 – 5, 11 – 9
Taylor Fernandes beat Alysa Xavier 12 – 10, 11 – 2, 11 – 6
Men’s Plate
Alec Melville won by walkover from Oliver Kear-Downes
Men’s Veterans 35 – 49
Joe Mekdeci defeated Alwyn Callender 8 – 11, 11 – 2, 11 – 7, 6 – 11, 11 – 9
Brian Yong beat Medhi Ramdhani 11 – 9, 11 – 8, 5 – 11, 11 – 9
Stephen Fernandes beat Philip Fernandes 8 – 11, 11- 9, 11 – 3, 11 – 9.
Final placing in the respective categories:
Men’s Open
Alex Arjoon Winner
Richard Chin second
Jason Ray Khalil third
Nyron Joseph fourth
Deje Dias fifth
Ben Mekdeci sixth
Nicholas Narain seventh
Regan Pollard eighth
Alec Melville ninth
Oliver Kear-Downes tenth
Women’s Open
Mary Fung A Fat Winner
Akeila Wiltshire second
Ashley De Groot third
Larissa Wiltshire fourth
Victoria Arjoon fifth
Kathy Ten-Pow sixth
Taylor Fernandes seventh
Alysa Xavier eighth
Veterans Men’s 35 – 49
Joe Mekdeci Winner
Alwyn Callender second
Brian Yong third
Medhi Ramdhani fourth
Stephen Fernandes fifth
Philip Fernandes sixth
Timothy Jonas seventh
Damon Woodroffe eighth
Veterans Men’s over 50
Alwyn Callender winner
Mike Atherly second
Robin Low third
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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