World badminton stars coming

World-rated stars from Canada, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland are coming for the biggest ever Caribbean Badminton Championship (CAREBACO), which will be staged at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo from July 11 to 19.

Ronald Clarke, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Badminton Association (TTBA), at a media conference yesterday at the Crowne Plaza, Port-of-Spain announced that over 120 international players have confirmed their participation in this year’s tournament which is being used as a qualification series for the 2004 Athens Olympics. The International Badminton Federation (IBF) has approved CAREBACO as a Grade “A” Championship and this allows all international players the opportunity of scoring valuable points to achieve the IOC qualifying standards.

Japan’s number three rated doubles pair of Yosiko Iwata and Miyuki Tai, currently 41 on the world doubles rankings as  well as compatriot Sho Sasaki, number 41 in the world’s singles rankings; Germany’s Conrad Huekstaedt (world’s singles No 51), Spain’s Arturo Ruiz (world’s singles no.62), Canada’s Bobby Milroy (world’s singles No.63), Portugal’s Marco Vasconcelos (world’s singles No.68) and Finland’s Anu Weckstrom (world’s women singles No.22) have confirmed their participation. They will be here to match skills with other leading exponents from the region who are seeking to establish themselves at the higher levels in a separate tournament from July 15 to 19 after the CAREBACO.

According to Clarke, Crowne Plaza Hotel has been designated the official hotel of the tournament while Solo Beverages will outfit the national teams (seniors and juniors) and provide polo shirts for all officials. Solo will also provide the products (soft drinks) for players and officials. Former national champion and coach Trevor Smith, who is a sales manager with Solo Beverages, presented national women singles champion Sabrina Cassie with a track suit, which will be used during the tournament. “The TTBA budgeted for $260,000 to successfully host the championship. But we still need a further $60,000 to ensure that we stage a memorable CAREBACO for the visiting teams and players. We want them to take back with them pleasant memories of our country,” Clarke said.

The president appealed to other businessses to come forward and make a financial contribution to help them offset the enormous costs associated with the championship. Apart from Crowne Plaza and Solo Beverages, Computer Controls Limited, TIDCO and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs are also giving valuable assistance. Patrick Cunningham, TTBA’s treasurer, revealed that it cost over $600,000 to stage the CAREBACO to the magnitude of organisation seen at other high level competitions. “We had to plan within a certain level of financial contribution. We depend on the corporate community to help us to successfully put everything together and make all the players comfortable and for them to return home with special memories of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

For the International Section of the tournament, players from USA, Japan, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Germany, Switzerland, Iceland, Iran, Portugal, Brazil and Finland will participate. Hosts Trinidad and Tobago will be up against Jamaica, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Suriname for the CAREBACO titles. Overseas-based Darron Charles (Cuba) and Glendon Thomas (Canada) will strengthened the senior team which also comprise national triple-crowned champion Anil Seepaul, Kerwyn Pantin, Sarajdeen Mohammed and Jeremy Lewis (men); Sabrina Cassie, Zeudi Mack, Nadine Julien, Stephanie Mitchell, Kesma Benito and Kimberley Lovero (women).