Charles, Blake cop Solo badminton titles

DARRON CHARLES emerged champion of the Solo Beverages Limited Open Badminton Championship which brought the curtains down on the sport for the year at the Chaguanas  Regional Indoor Sporting Auditorium last week. Charles got the better of his doubles partner and current national champion Kerwyn Pantin in a keenly contested match 21-14, 16-21, 21-14 in the final of the Men’s Singles. With his success he has earned the right to be called the best on the national circuit for the year, a reputation he will take into the new year. Charles then confirmed his class among the men when he teamed up with Pantin to secure the Men’s Doubles title. The duo easily disposed of Rahul Rampersad and Justin Siu in the finals 21-16, 21-9 to be once again crowned the top pair in the country.

Nekeisha Blake was also crowned in the Women’s Singles category when she turned back a fighting Kerian Quan Chee in the final in three straight sets 21-17, 21-17, 21-19. Also Sabrina Cassie and Zeudi Mack, once again combined forces to win the women’s doubles championship. They disposed of Lisa Umraw and Kerian Quan Chee in two straight sets 21-12, 21-8 which came as no surprise. Mack and the talented Anil Seepaul then combined to take home the Mixed Doubles title, when they defeated Cassie and Justin Siu in the final — again in two straight sets  21-18, 21-18. Afterwards president of the local badminton association Ronald Clarke was high in praise for the winners of the tournament. But he was even more elated as he spoke highly about the standard that was displayed at the competition. 

“Based on the quality of play we are seeing especially in the latter half of this year, we are certain that the sport is on the rise again,” Clarke stated. “We will continue to send players on training camps abroad as was the case this year and our focus will now be placed on the further development of the sport in 2006 at the primary schools level” he added. Clarke, who was re-elected to the position of vice president in charge of the Caribbean on the Pan Am Badminton Confederation last month at the PABC Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Miami, stated that funding was being allocated to the Caribbean region in 2006 for the development of the sport. He pointed out that the powers that be recognise that with the USA (part of the PABC region) winning the men’s doubles at the World Championship this year in Anaheim, California, the potential to further develop and expand the sport was possible.

He made it clear that their mission is to encourage all the Caribbean member countries to grasp the opportunity to develop and improve the level of the sport. Vice-president of the local badminton association Patrick Cunningham was also elected as the president of CAREBACO recently. He is expected to spearhead the project of regional development. Clarke said that with the regional associations turning the corner where development of the sport is concerned, they are hopeful that Caribbean countries would be a stronger force to be reckoned with in the very near future. To achieve this Clarke and his association will beef up training for all involved in the sport in the new year. “We will be having a number of courses for technical officials, coaching courses for aspiring badminton coaches as well as coaching clinics for players throughout Trinidad and Tobago” Clarke concluded.