Nadav started playing the sport after observing his sister Narisa Singh training under coach Anand Maraj at the Southern Sports Badminton Club.

Narisa, a form two student at Naparima Girls, showed a keen interest in the sport and her parents decided to enrol her into coach Maraj’s programme. While accompanying her to practise sessions, Nadav and his father picked up racquets and started playing and soon Nadav caught the eye of the coach who say great potential in him. Four months later, he was crowned the 2017 champion in the Under-11 Boys Singles and Doubles categories.

Nadav, speaking to Newsday, expressed delight in his achievement of becoming junior champion in both categories.

“I felt really happy because whenever I am on the court, the only thing on my mind is try to win and I ended up winning both the Singles and Doubles,” he said.

When asked which of the two trophies he appreciated the most, he declared, “I like the singles trophy more because I did it by myself and I felt really excited when I won it.” The standard three student of Brothers’ Presbyterian primary school in Williamsville thanked his coach, his sister and his unwavering family support.

His father, Naresh, a Physical Educator at the Williamsville Secondary School, explained the sacrifices he makes in ensuring his children get their education and train properly.

“Sometimes you may have to just be around while the training session takes place, but in my case, I usually find things to keep me occupied such as cleaning out the car, sometimes taking a run on the field or even make a quick run to the grocery and get a few items,” he said.

He added, “It is important to find the time because they need the support because even though they like what they are doing, it will have some days they may not be 100 percent up to it but that is when you have to guide and give them the extra push to have the desire to continue.” Anand Maraj, president and Head Coach of the Southern Stars Badminton Club, has been coaching badminton for over 13 years at several primary and secondary schools throughout south Trinidad. After gaining positive feedback from several parents he opened the club at Naparima Girls High School.

As the club began growing, he decided to move the training sessions to Pleasantville Indoor Complex and also attained permission to use La Romain High School’s facility as the club’s headquarters.

In the opening match of the tournament, Brazil took on Argentina and it was the samba nation who emerged 9-3 victors, over their South American rivals.

As crowds gathered for the second game on the night, the Canadians overpowered the local team to lead convincingly 20-0 at the half.

The partisan crowd did have a moment to celebrate in the third quarter when Gregorio Felician found the back of the net from a long distance attempt to put the host nation on the scoreboard.

However, the night was all in favour of the foreigners as they blew away their opponents 35-1.

Wendell Lai Hing, president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT ), however, remains confident in the national team despite the bleak showing.

“They are still a very young team and the only way from here is up. I am sure they would be able to bounce back and use this defeat as a form of motivation,” he said. The excitement continues at the Aquatic Centre every day till Saturday morning when the final will splash off.

The UANA Water Polo Cup is a qualifier for the World Aquatic Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary later this year.

Briggs won the girls over 18 shot put (12.30m), discus (30.72m), javelin (38.99m) and open hammer (25.96m) to sweep all the throws at the field events day held at Toco Secondary. The five-time Carifta and CAC Junior shot and javelin medallist was impressive in the javelin, missing the qualifying standard for the Carifta girls under 20 discipline (39.00) by just one centimetre. The 2012 National Secondary Schools Championships top female athlete also ran the lead off leg on Toco’s girls over 18 4x100m team which copped silver at the track events day at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.

Lewis showed her versatility by winning the girls under 18 800m (2 minutes, 41.19 secs), 1500m (5:53.66), high jump (1.30m) and javelin (19.18m) events. Joel Andrews (Holy Cross) and Asiel Gonzales (Sangre Grande Sec) were triple winners and missed on a four gold medal feat. Andrews was victorious in the boys under 18 discus (34.86m), high jump (1.65m), long jump (5.89m) but had to settle for silver in the shot put (11.14m) behind his Holy Cross school-mate Dwayne Simon (12.50m). Asiel sped to victories in the boys under 14 100m (13.24 secs), 400m (1 minute, 3.67 secs) and long jump (4.40m). However, in the 200m he secured bronze (27.21 secs). Xea Bruce (Toco Secondary) and Delicia Thom (Toco Secondary also won three gold medals. Bruce took the girls under 14 400m (1 minute, 4.77 secs) and long jump (4.11m).

She also topped the field in the girls under 16 800m (2 minutes, 33.85 secs). She added more gold with the triumphant girls under 14 4x100m and girls under 16 4x400m relay team. Thom was crowned champion in the girls over 18 long jump (4.88m), high jump (1.40m) and open triple jump (11.02m).

Jaheim Hector (Sangre Grande Secondary), Mishak Peters (Adonis Academy Private) and Jeremiah Hamilton (Toco Sec) were double winners. Hector secured the boys under 14 200m (27.06 secs) and javelin (24.49m) disciplines and came close to gold number three in the long jump but took second place (4.18m). Peters ran away with the boys under 16 200m (25.31 secs) and 400m (56.15 secs) sprint titles. He was eyeing a third gold in the 100m but had to settle for third (12.50 secs). Hamilton landed the boys over 18 400m (52.94 secs) and 800m (2 minutes, 5.19 secs) titles.

In his bid for gold in the 200m, he was third (23.64 secs). Carifta medallist Tyrell Edwards (boys over 18 100m -11.18 secs/200m – 22.38 secs) headed the list of other Toco Secondary athletes who won two gold medals.

Mackenay Baptiste (North Eastern College) won the girls girls under 18 100m and then anchored her school’s 4x100m team to victory.

Aaliyah Mitchell (girls under 18 400m), Kadanae Alexander and (boys under 16 100m) also struck gold for North Eastern College.

(sports core toba go)

Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul was at his devastating best, snatching four wickets for 37 in 10 overs to dismantle the Kent lower order and dismiss them for 194 in 46 overs. Medium pacer Roshon Primus of Barbados had earlier took two for 35 in his 10 overs while Windies speedster Shannon Gabriel was once again effective, taking one for 25 from eight stingy overs.

Will Gidman top scored with 50 for Kent. Also making contributions to the total were Darren Stevens and Alex Blake, who scored 38 and 36 respectively.

In reply, Red Force got off to a flier with Kjorn Ottley hammering five fours and a six in a fluent 32 as he put on 49 for the first wicket with Imran Khan (20).

However, once they were separated three wickets fell 16 runs to leave Red Force stumbling but Mohammed and Ramdin then came together to ease any worries over the result in a 127-run, fourth wicket partnership.

Mohammed struck nine fours and two sixes in registering his seventh List A half-century and first of the tournament while Ramdin belted three fours and three sixes in a rapid 59-ball cameo to also notch his first 50 of the competition.

By the time Ramdin and Primus (0) were dismissed without a run added at 192, Red Force were already assured of victory and Mohammed formalised the result in the 42nd over with a boundary.

The Red Force finished on 198 for five in 41.2 overs.

As a result of the defeat, Kent cannot advance to the semifinals.

The Red Force win avenged their only defeat of the tournament to Kent.

SCOR EBOARD
Red Force vs Kent
Kent Innings
D Bell-Drummond c Ramdin b Primus…
10
S Dickson c Pierre b Gabriel…………………6
S Northeast lbw b Pierre……………………..23
D Stevens c Lewis b Primus………………..38
W Gidman b Emrit…………………………….50
A Blake c Ramdin b Rampaul…………….36
A Rouse not out……………………………………7
M Coles c Ramdin b Rampaul……………..6
J Tredwell run out…………………………………2
A Riley b Rampaul……………………………….1
M Hunn b Rampaul……………………………..0
EXTRAS: (LB3, NB1, W11)………………..15
TOT AL: (all out, 46 overs)………………..194
Fall of wickets: 8; 38; 40; 98; 173; 176; 184;
189; 194; 194.
BOWLING: Gabriel 8-2-25-1 (W2),
Rampaul 10-1-37-4 (W1), Pierre 6-0-36-
1, Primus 10-0-35-2 (W6, NB1), Emrit
8-0-35-1 (W2), Mohammed 4-0-23-0.
Red Force Innings
K Ottley c Coles b Stevens………………….32
I Khan c and b Stevens……………………….20
N Alexis c Tredwell b Stevens……………….4
J Mohammed not out………………………….78
D Ramdin c Rouse b Coles…………………56
R Primus run out………………………………….0
K Pierre not out……………………………………0
EXTRAS: (LB3, W4, NB1)……………………8
TOT AL: (5 wkts, 41.2 overs)……………..198
Did not bat: E Lewis, R Emrit, R Rampaul,
S Gabriel.
Fall of wickets: 49; 58; 65; 192; 192.
BOWLING: Coles 9.2-2-52-1 (W2, NB1),
Hunn 5-0-29-0 (W1), Tredwell 10-1-37-0,
Stevens 10-0-34-3 (W1), Gidman 2-0-7-0,
Riley 5-1-36-0.
Result: Red Force won by five wickets.
Points: Red Force 4, Kent 0.

The site is way above 300 feet or 91.4 metres that we are told is a normal statutory requirement.

This development will leave in its wake more silting and greater turbidity in the Maracas River already void of animal life, but contributing to the annual flooding in the Caroni Plains.

How this project could be approved by the Town and Country Planning Division and the Environmental Management Authority is cause for concern, but then again this is TT where lawlessness permeates every facet of life and where the rich and powerful are seemingly above the law. No doubt the project will continue with impunity.

Our past governments have all been weak on environmental issues and this one is no different LENNOX BERNARD via email

Her ill-advised letter to the US President on the subject of the FATCA issue is similar to a little girl telling her brother that their daddy would deal with him when he gets home. Her latest rant calling for the citizenry to be allowed to bear arms borders on the paranoid.

It is obvious that Persad-Bissessar is not familiar with the Western movie genre, where the hero rides off into the sunset, and so, like the villain of the piece, she is going to wait to be told to get out of town by sundown.

What an ignoble end looms to an otherwise admirable career.

TYRONE EVANS Belmont

Even as the police arrest their sons for violent criminal behaviour, some mothers attest to their goodness.

How many women with eyes wide open, having been warned, knowingly start a relationship with a man of dubious background? We live in a culture where the male gender is glorified.

Women are toys. Women are a distraction.

Women in TT are used and abused because the men are brainwashed into believing they are superior beings. This is our culture across all the races in TT .

Offend the man and your punishment may be plain and simple murder. Speaking the truth often offends.

I looked at the broadcast of the Prime Minister’s national conversation in Maloney on Monday and at no time did I get the impression that the PM intended to throw victims under the bus. I find it offensive that he should be asked to apologise for a remark that was taken out of context.

On checking on who TNT Patriots might be, I discovered that one Mala Mahabir who lives in Canada is the head of this organisation.

Womantra, registered abroad, only speaks up about violence against women in TT if they can get some mileage from our local media.

Former Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee was forced to resign because of an online petition from women who have never been to Trinidad. He too was taken out of context.

Why this playing of selfish anti-government politics while women are being murdered? Dismal personal choices regarding men friends as a pertinent cause of domestic violence cannot be swept under the carpet. It is said the Japanese pannist who was murdered last Carnival was an eight-time visitor to TT and obviously trusted her companions.

Having been brainwashed into believing they are infallible, our men can also be classed as victims.

The underachievers are always the most violent. Please note that it is the working class, less well educated women who are murdered first. They stay in violent relationships to feed their children.

Forget the politics of blame. All women need to look in the mirror.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

He continued and expanded the scope of work done by historians such as Carlton Robert Ottley and Louis B Homer (both deceased), and Michael Anthony who were all involved in the dissemination of the country’s history. Bissessarsingh’s work appealed to the average citizen including many young people.

I was impressed by his interest in topics of local history. I remember his column which I read every Sunday. And of course there was his fascination with cemeteries. I have visited two cemeteries to view tombstones that he had identified in Walking with the Ancestors.

He was a prolific writer who has left a significant legacy. He used a variety of media to share very interesting information about events and places in our country’s past and to appeal to citizens to be genuinely concerned about the preservation of historic buildings.

I am sure there are many people who will state that they have developed an interest in local history because they were inspired by the work of Bissessarsingh.

Ian Green Couva

In a statement, the Women’s Arm said, “Victim blaming occurs when the victim of a crime or any wrongful act is held entirely or partially responsible for the harm that befell them. The study of victimology seeks to mitigate the perception of victims as responsible. There is a greater tendency to blame victims than perpetrators.”

The UNC women called on Rowley to apologise immediately since these women and their families, having undergone tremendous psychological and physical trauma during their ordeals, are now placed under similar trauma by this comment. “We also would like to ask the Prime Minister: were Nadia Simms, Rachel Ramkissoon and other women who were victims of heinous crimes, were they also murdered because of their ‘choices’?” the group asked.

The Women’s Arm also alleged that Rowley shed accountability for other murders by playing the victim card. It also criticised Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, claiming he was sending mixed messages with respect to traffic crimes.” As elected representatives, the Prime Minister and Attorney General are responsible for public safety, the women said, adding: “Domestic violence is a crime, a public matter, a social problem.

The State’s primary responsibility is to protect all citizens, not pick and choose, not profit from crime.” Speaking via a press release in her personal capacity as Couva North MP, Ramona Ramdial yesterday called on Rowley to apologist rather than try and defend his statement. She said the prime minister’s language was “poor and crass” and that his response on Monday should have been more “solution-oriented”.

She said Rowley’s focus must be on improving the legal system and assist all women in regards the granting of protection orders, training police adequately to deal with domestic issues, have social officers at all police stations, construct more shelters and safe spaces for women through collaboration with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations), CBO (Community Based Organisations). She also called on Rowley to exercise more sensitivity when dealing with such a topic as domestic violence.

In a media release yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP) stated the company was aware of reports of fuel being contaminated with water at a few service stations. “NP wishes to assure the public that this is a contained situation and that NP remains committed to ensuring that its investigations and analysis of the matter are concluded as quickly as possible. Any issues identified will be addressed expeditiously,” the NP release stated.

Petroleum Dealers Association president Robindranath Naraynsingh said the situation had been normalised and expressed the hope that NOP would accept responsibility for the incident.

“Everything back to normal, fuel that was delivered to a number of service stations was contaminated fuel and we hope they will take responsibility for what happened,” he said, adding that the eight stations were not isolated to one part of Trinidad but was across the country including Maraval, Curepe, Piarco, Carenage, Chaguanas, Couva, Biche and D’Abadie. Naraynsingh said the stations were equipped with a filtration system at the pumps and “when water hits the filtration system, it is supposed to shut down the pumps and that is what will happened so people wouldn’t really get water in the fuel.” But sometimes mistakes happen, he said, adding it is a simple problem…gas and water doesn’t mix so what NP does at the gas stations, they would pump out the water from the tanks to ensure people get proper fuel for their vehicles.

Naraynsingh also reiterated his call for the Ministry of Energy to issue licenses to the petroleum dealers as they were presently operating without a license for the past five years.

He also blamed the small profit margin for the dilapidated condition at many service stations saying dealers were making less than five percent profit from the sale of petroleum products