Guyanese women take bronze in squash at CAC Games

Guyana’s women’s squash side secured their second medal, claiming the bronze accolade while the men finished out of medal contention when the squash section of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games concluded yesterday.

Bronze medals are given to the sides losing in the semi-final stage and as such, Guyana walked away with the third place award after losing to the host nation on Friday evening. Also clinching bronze was Guatemala who lost to Colombia in the second semi-final match.

In the matches contested at the Leyes de Reforma Sports Complex in Vera Cruz, Mexico, Guyana quickly fell behind as Samantha Teran disposed of Ashley Khalil in straight sets 11-1, 11-1 and 11-4 in the first encounter. In the second matchup, Karla Urrutia blanked Ashley DeGroot in straights sets 11-3, 11-3 and 11-2.

In their earlier matchup, Guyana clinched their berth to the semi-final stage after defeating Barbados by a 2-1 margin.

The local ladies surrendered a 1-0 lead in the opening matchup as Karen Meakins defeated Khalil 6-11, 11-5, 11-6 and 11-5. However Guyana battled back to level the score line in the second matchup as DeGroot brushed aside Alexandra Jordan 11-5, 11-9 and 11-9.

The local ladies completed the come-from-behind win in the third and final matchup when Mary Fung-A-Fat overwhelmed Nadia McCarthy 11-4, 11-7 and 11-5.

Guyana’s men defeated St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 2-0. Having defeated SVG 3-0 in their earlier group showdown, Guyana took the early lead as Alexander Arjoon defeated Kevin Hannaway 11-8, 11-3 and 11-9.

Sunil Seth then sealed the victory as he downed Jules Snagg in straight sets 11-5, 11-8 and 11-2. On Friday, Guyana defeated British Virgin Islands (BVI) by a 2-1 score line before going down to Jamaica 2-0 in their second fixture.

In the opening matchup against BVI, Sunil Seth gave Guyana the early 1-0 lead as he defeated Joseph Kneipp via walkover. Jason Khalil then gave Guyana an unassailable 2-0 lead as he defeated Michael Adamson 11-2, 11-3 and 11-7 in the second fixture.

With the victory already secured, Guyana surrendered the third and final match as Joseph Chapman downed Arjoon 11-8, 11-9 and 11-6.

In their matchup with Jamaica, the local side conceded the early lead as Lewis Walters defeated Seth 11-8, 11-9, 3-11 and 11-9 in the first fixture. Jamaica then clinched the matchup as Bruce Burrowes blanked Jason Khalil 11-5, 11-8 and 11-6.