Khalil hopes to defy odds

GSA/Bounty Farm Mash handicap tournament…

Even though he has the most severe handicap of the tournament, 18-year old squash campaigner Jason Ray Khalil is looking to the defy the odds and win 2013 Bounty Farm Mash Handicap tournament.

The format of the tournament was conceived to have a level playing field so that players of all skill levels can have a shot at becoming a tournament champion. Khalil for example has had to most severe handicap for the past two year (-25 and -20), while the 45-year-old president of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) David Fernandes was given a 10-point advantage for this year’s competition.

Jason Ray Khalil
Jason Ray Khalil

Players with huge advantages have been known to prevail in this competition in previous years when they were up against opponents with huge handicaps. Even World ranked squash Nicolette Fernandes was eliminated from the semi-final in 2010, by David Fernandes. In that year, the tournament was won by Victoria Arjoon who had a +12 advantage. In 2008 and 2007, DainaKing(+12) and Keisha Jeffrey (+12) maximised their advantages to win the tournament.

Playing with a negative ten (-10) handicap last year, former national player Robert Fernandes produced an emphatic tournament victory against the odds.  In the previous year, Khalil captured the title from overseas based veteran player Brendon Mounter who had a negative -12.  That year, Khalil was playing with a handicap of -16 but this time around he has to win 35 points to won each game with the handicap of -20.

The former Caribbean under 17 champion recounted that last year’s tournament was “extremely tough” as he was playing with a handicap of -25. Khalil said that it was nearly impossible to win the tournament with that handicap although he managed to win the plate (consolation) round of the tournament. Khalil had been eliminated from the main draw in the first round.

“It puts so much pressure on you. It’s like you can make a mistake because you have to come from so many points behind without your opponent scoring points at the same time so it’s as though you have to play perfect,” Khalil said.

Khalil said that he felt that his game has improved over the past year and hopes he can withstand the pressure and play at his best. Khalil is presently training with the hopes of representing Guyana at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Championships that will be held in Guyana this August. After receiving a first round bye Khalil will play his first match against Jonathon Antczak who will be starting with a six point advantage in the 15-point game.