Members of Guyana’s girls’ team which has had tremendous depth in this year’s competition (Guyanasquash.org photo)
Today marks the final day of competition in the Digicel Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Squash Championships and, after winning five individual titles, Guyana’s chances of winning the overall team title for the seventh consecutive time are very likely.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams remain undefeated in team competition and dominated their semi-final encounters by the 5- 0 margin.
The girls have won the team event for the past five years and winning tomorrow would not only mean six in a row, but it would ensure Guyana of the overall title regardless of the result of the boys’ match. Guyana’s girls’ team is expected to be at full strength with Under- 19 champion Keisha Jeffrey and Ashley Khalil competing in the Under-19 category, Victoria Arjoon in the Under – 17 category, Caribbean Under- 15 champion Akeila Wiltshire in the Under- 15, and Lydia Alphonso in the Under- 13 category.
Jamaica has in their arsenal two-time Under- 13 champion Alyssa Mullings, along with Mary Mahfood, who had been seeded number one in the Under- 15 draw this year before Akeila Wiltshire stunned her in five games.
Nryon Joseph plays a commanding forehand shot during his victory against Jamaica’s Jake Mahfood (Guyanasquash.org photo)Under-19 runner-up Alex Arjoon found his form once again by defeating Josh Mahfood in straight games (Guyanasquash.org photo)
The GT boys dominated their Jamaican counterparts in the semi- final yesterday at the Georgetown club, prevailing 5- 0, without conceding a game in any of those five matches. Deje Dias defeated Ashanti Smith 11/ 4, 11/ 4 and 11/ 5, Patrick Fraser disposed of Stephan Morrision 12/ 10, 11/ 7 and 11/ 8, while Alex Arjoon was able to withstand a great effort from Josh Mahfood 12/ 10, 11/ 6 and 12/ 10.
Nyron Joseph took apart Jake Mahfood 11/ 5, 11/ 8 and 11/ 9 and them Jason Ray Khalil kept the streak going with an 11/ 3, 11/ 6, 14/ 12 victory to close out Jamaica.
The Guyana/ T& T matchup in the final is expected to be a fierce dual between the two nations, who met quite a few times in the individual tournament finals.
Kale Wilson edged Alex Arjoon in five for the Under-19 title and Arjoon will have a chance to take revenge. Mandela Patrick was brushed aside by Jason Ray Khalil in the Under-17 final while his younger brother Nku Patrick had put up a challenge before Joseph dispatched him in four close games.
