Badminton team out Junior Pan Am

These championships will concludes today.

The local contingent won only two of their 13 games played, but officials claim they are using these championships as a learning experience and for further development of badminton in Trinidad and Tobago.

On day one of the competition, Zuwena James was the only successor for Trinidad and Tobago (TT) when she defeated Jamaican Nicole Smith in the Girls’ Singles Under-19 division. James played well and won in two straight sets 21-13, 21-7. Also on day one, the local team was trounced by a dominant Peru 5-0 in the team event.

The second day of play saw national Girls Under-17 and Under-19 champion, Kristi-Reno Singh partner with Jason Ramjass to again win against Jamaican opposition in the Under-17 Mixed Doubles. Ramjass and Singh defeated Jamar Campbell and Dora Lai 21-5, 21-13. This win was significant but still not enough to propel the local team into the next round, since they lost all other doubles matches.

Day two team events saw Puerto Rico clinch victory over TT with a close 3-2 win.

TT’s national Under-19 champion, Matthaus Wilford had a tough time at the Championships going up against top international opposition. Wilford lost his opening match against Nyl Yakura of Canada 21-7, 21-7. He teamed up with James in the Under-19 Mixed Doubles but went down to Guatemala’s Heymard Humblers and Nikte Sotomeyer 21-10, 21-12.

At the Championships, TT were represented by Kristi Reno-Singh, Matthaus Wilford, Jason Ramjass, Zuwena James, Reba Fleary and T’Chad Baptiste. They were accompanied by team coach, Anil Seepaul and TTBA president, Reno Singh.

UTT lecturer and badminton coach, Tony Grice revealed earlier that tournaments such as the Junior Pan Am were necessary for the local team to gain the much needed experience of the younger players. He wanted the players to compete against top athletes so that they would be able to recognise some of the strengths and weaknesses during play.

The team is scheduled to return tomorrow (Monday).