Rampersad, QuanChee win ‘Gem’ badmiton

NATIONAL under-19 champion Rahul Rampersad and promising Kerian Quan Chee were crowned The Gem Shop Junior badminton champions. Rampersad of Central Smashers was extended to three sets with Justin Siu before securing the winner’s prize of  $700 and a $500 gift voucher. The lanky Rampersad won 13-15, 15-4 and 15-4 in the final contested at the Oxford Club, San Fernando. Siu, who like Rampersad is from Presentation College, Chaguanas, collected $500 plus a gift voucher for $300 and a medal, courtesy The Gem Shop.

The runner-up had a big scare in his semi-final match when his Cri-Stars clubmate Earnesto Dean took the first 4-15, but recovered to snatch the closely-fought second set at 15-14 before routing his opponent  15-1 in the decisive third set. But Rampersad toyed with Sangre Grande’s Wolde Alexander and cruised into the final with a straight sets triumph 15-5, 15-4. Dean and Alexander received $150 cash each plus gift vouchers worth $150 and a medal. QuanChee, despite a strained thigh muscle, proved too good for newcomer Vaeda Solomon of Cri-Stars, winning 11-1, 11-2 in only minutes to walk off with the $700 winner’s prize plus a $500 gift voucher and The Gem Shop Trophy. Runner-up Solomon received $500 plus a $300 gift voucher and medal, while Marisa Deonarine took home $150 and a $150 gift voucher.