Juniors defy pain to take badminton gold

Fighting back agonising knee pains, the heroic pair of Justin Siu and Earnesto Dean brought glory to Trinidad and Tobago when they whipped Surinamese rivals Randy Wakiran and Dino Kappel 15-8, 15-13 to claim the CAREBACO Under-17 doubles gold medal on Saturday at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.

Siu injured his right knee in his semi-final singles clash with Mexican Alexandro Reyes on Friday. He lost in a thrilling three-setter at 13-15, 15-9, 9-15 while Dean, suffered a similar fate against Reyes’ compatriot Jose Gonzalez in the other singles “semi.” But the Cri-Stars Badminton and Presentation College (Chaguanas) players defied the odds and writhing pains to capture the coveted gold, which was TT’s major success in the individual events. TT also collected silver through the efforts of national Under-17 singles champion Vikie Singh and her doubles partner Nekeisha Blake who together committed too many unforced errors and did not display smooth coordination as they bowed 10-15, 6-15 to the Mexican pair of Naty DeLaRangel and Rosina Nunes in the girls' doubles gold medal match. The Mexicans showed their dominance in the Under-15 category when Rangel took the Girls Unde- 17 triple crown by beating her partner (Nunes) 11-7, 11-2 in the singles final. Then she teamed up with the new boys' Under-17 champion, Jose Rodriguez to take the mixed doubles title with 15-4, 11-15, 15-4 victory over Jamaica’s Vishnu Tolan and Tracy Morgan. Gonzalez took care of Reyes at 15-10 and 15-3.

However, pride of place went to the immensely talented Surinamese junior pair of Mitchell Wongsodikromo and Stephanie Jadi who overall emerged as the undisputed triple-crowned Under-19 champions. It was a familiar pattern to what transpired in the Under-17s. While the Mexicans captured four of the five gold in the Under-17s, powerhouse Suriname contingent proved more versatile and devastating in the Under-19s and captured all five golds at stake. Pride of place went to Mitchell Wongsodikromo who dethroned his compatriot and doubles partner Virgil Soeroredjo. The latter ruled the roost over the years in the singles category. Together they whipped the Jamaican pair of Kasif Bernard and Kirk Francis 15-12, 15-6 in the Under-19 doubles final. Wongsodikromo and the impressive Jadi combined took the mixed doubles gold with a comfortable 15-10, 15-9 victory over Soeroredjo and Sefania Esajas. Jadi also covered herself in glory with the triple crown. Before the mixed doubles victory, she won the singles title by trouncing Barbados champion Shari Watson 11-2, 11-5. Then she partnered Esajas in the girls doubles and stopped the valiant Barbadian duo of Watson and Shakeira Waite at 10-15, 15-13, 15-9. Jamaica took top honours in Under-13 category and shared it with Suriname in the Under-15 age group.

CAREBACO Junior Results
UNDER 19
Boys Singles: Gold- MITCHELL WONGSODIKROMO (Suriname) beat Virgil Soerordedjo (Suriname) 15-2, 9-15, 15-11.
Girls Singles: Gold- STEPHANIE JADI (Suriname) beat Shari Watson (Barbados) 11-2, 11-5.
Boys Doubles: Gold- MITCHELL WONGSODIKROMO and VIRGIL SOEROREDJO (Suriname) beat Kasif Bernard and Kirk Francis (Jamaica) 15-12, 15-6.
Girls Doubles: Gold- STEPHANIE JADI and SEFANIA ESAJAS (Suriname) beat Shari Watson and Shakeira Waite (Barbados) 10-15, 15-13, 15-9.
Mixed Doubles: Gold- WONGSODIKROMO and JADI (Suriname) beat Soeroredjo and Esajas (Suriname) 15-10, 15-9.
UNDER 17
Boys Singles: Gold- JOSE GONZALEZ (Mexico) beat Alexandro Reyes (Mexico) 15-10, 15-3.
Girls Singles: Gold- Naty DeLaRangel (Mexico) beat Rosina Nunes (Mexico) 11-7, 11-2.
Boys Doubles: Gold- JUSTIN SIU and EARNESTO DEAN (Trinidad and Tobago) beat Randy Wakiran and Dino Kappel (Suriname) 15-8, 15-13.
Girls Doubles: Gold- NATY DeLa RANGEL and ROSINA NUNES (Mexico) beat Vikie Singh and Nekeiska Blake (Trinidad and Tobago) 15-10, 15-6.
Mixed Doubles: Gold- GONZALES and DeLa RANGEL (Mexico) beat Vishnu Tolan and Tracy Morgan (Jamaica) 15-4, 11-15, 15-4.
UNDER 15
Boys Singles: Gold- JOVAN BROWN (Jamaica) won by default from Nicholas Reifer (Barbados).
Girls Singles: Gold- XAVIRA JONS (Suriname) beat Gaelle Jones (Suriname) 11-5, 11-7.
Boys Doubles: Gold- JOVAN BROWN and RICHARD BLAKE (J’ca) beat Chadwick Parsons and Ryan Blake (J’ca) 15-12, 15-12.
Girls Doubles: Gold- XAVIRA JONS and GAELLE JONES (Suriname) beat Kerri Wong ChewOnn and Sherece Scaff (J’ca) 15-1,15-4.
Mixed Doubles: Gold- JOVAN BROWN and SHERECE SCAFF (J’ca) won by default from Nicholas Reifer and Shenelle Peart (B’dos).
UNDER 13.
Boys Singles: Gold- GARETH HENRY (Jca) beat Kyle Wong ChewOnn (J’ca) 15-3, 15-6.
Boys Doubles: Gold- GARETH HENERY and KYLE WONG CHEW-ONN (J’ca) beat J. Smith (J’ca) and D. Darmohaetomo (Suriname) 15-0, 15-10.