Top stars coming for international badminton

Trinidad and Tobago will host the CAREBACO TT International Championships in November. This dislosure was made by Ronald Clarke, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Badminton Association (TTBA), at the opening of the inaugural Gem Shop Champions Juniors tournament at the Oxford Club, San Fernando on Saturday. TT hosted last year’s CAREBACO International Championships at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port-of-Spain. And it was a big success story with internationally rated participants from over the other leading badminton countries especially Japan, United States of America, Germany and Canada battling for top honours.

Clarke expects a bigger tournament with more leading exponents from over 18 countries coming to vie for the top prizes. “This year we intend to improve on that success when the tournament is held from November 3 to 6 at the Central Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Chaguanas,” Clarke said. The TTBA president stressed that the local association intends to spread the sports to other parts of the country, hence the “bringing of the CAREBACO TT International to Central Region will be the start.” National Under-19 champion Rahul Rampersad of Central Smashers signaled his intention of maintaining his supremacy when he disposed of  Khaeer Khan (15-4 and 15-1) in their quarter-final encounter while national runner-up Justin Siu of Cri-Stars was down to do battle with his clubmate Earnesto Dean in the other semi-final. Siu overturned a determined but tired Deepak Ramdath (Cri-Stars) 15-11 and 15-0 in their quarter-final clash while Dean got the better of Shiva Persad (Cri-Stars) 15-9 and 15-1.

Ramdath was fully extended by national Under-17 champion Mitra Ramcharran before emerging victorious at 7-15, 15-13 and 15-13 in their exciting encounter. He raced to an early 10-2 lead in the first set against Siu but succumbed and to the tactical ploy exhibited by his more experienced clubmate. Sangre Grande’s Wolde Alexander made light work of Shelvlyn Dowlath in their quarter-final clash. Alexander romped home easily at 15-0 and 15-4. and will face up to the highly-talented Rampersad. Kerian QuanChee toyed with Oxford’s Marisa Deonarine 11-0 and 11-1 and will take on Cri-Stars Vaeda Solomon for the Girls title. Solomon also recorded an easy victory over the inexperienced Deonaine at 11- and 11-0.