Persaud, Khalil triumph in U19 badminton

Akash Persaud and Ashley Khalil ran out winners when the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) staged the Industrial Safety Supplies Under-19 boys’ and girls’ singles tournament which ended on Saturday at the Queen’s College courts.

Persaud edged Delmar Abrams 21-15, 21-23, 21-15 in the boys’ final after getting past eventual third-placed finisher Eusa Sanichara 14-21, 21-18, 21-16 in the semi-final.

Abrams advanced to the finals with a hard-fought 21-18, 18-21, 21-15 win over Renick Evelyn in the other semi-final. Khalil won in straight games 21-19, 21-15 over Michelle Astwood in the girls’ final after completing another straight-games 21-19, 21-7 win over Avasti Persaud in the semi-final.

In the other semi-final Astwood defeated eventual third-placed finisher Kristal-Lisa Khalil 21-16, 21-15.

In the two boys’ quarter-final matches which were completed on Saturday Evelyn defeated Jason Khalil 21-7, 21-11 while Sanichara defeated Narayan Ramdhani 21-11, 21-11.

Trophies were presented to the first three finishers by Gokarn Ramdhani, president of the GBA.

Meanwhile, an Over-35 doubles tournament is scheduled to start tomorrow at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall 7:30pm.