Cellphone giant Digicel yesterday handed over a cheque valued at $500,000 to the Guyana Squash Association to assist players travelling to the Cayman Islands for the Women’s World Open Squash Championship. The tournament is scheduled for December 13th to 21st.
Secretary of the Guyana Squash Association Vidushi Persaud said the association was proud to have three outstanding young ladies competing in the tournament: Nicolette Fernandes, Mary Fung-a-Fat and Ashley deGroot.
This, Persaud said, is their second year with Digicel and she hopes that the support continues. “They really support squash in Guyana and we really appreciate what they have done and look forward for continued collaboration with Digicel”.
Jacqueline James, Marketing Manager said the company is always pleased to be on board with anything that supports development, that supports our young people and supports them moving forward while recognizing that they are all Guyanese.
“As usual this is our second year being on board with the Guyana Squash Association and it has been a tremendous warm and welcoming feeling. We have no reason not to celebrate every day, every month because there is always something to celebrate about the Guyana Squash Association achieving something. We have our women now who are going to the World Championship and this is a phenomenal moment and event. Of course they are always champions for us because they have won the Caribbean Junior Championship so they are forever champions”.
According to James even if the three don’t return with championship trophies they will nevertheless be considered winners because they would be returning with lifetime experiences since it is a remarkable event for them.
Two of the participants were on hand: Fung-a-Fat and deGroot both of whom said they were pleased to be getting the opportunity to compete at the world championship.
“It’s an amazing feeling to represent Guyana on such a big level at the World open so we are pretty prepared and will go and have fun and show the world what we have to offer”, Fung-a-Fat said.
DeGroot said, “This has always been the biggest event of our squash life and it is great to have you on board with us (Digicel). Since you have been on board with us we have accomplished a lot and we are thankful for that”.
Six wild cards were up for grabs, two of which were given to Fung-a-Fat and DeGroot for their performance at the World Junior Championship.
On hand at the presentation ceremony were the mothers of DeGroot and Fung-a-Fat both of whom said they were elated that their daughters will be competing at this level in the sport.
An emotional Selouchinie Fung-a-Fat said they have worked hard with their children.
“There is always the behind-the-scenes person and invariably it’s the parents to pick up and drop off, spending a fortune on squash racquets, shoes, airfares and hotels. God has blessed them with some talent and we are glad that they have been able to reach this level”, Fung-a-Fat said.
According to her, she is grateful that Digicel has stepped in because travelling to the Cayman Islands is not cheap.
“She is now going to do her first degree and she does not want to quit squash, so we are trying to find a university that will allow her to continue playing squash”.
Camille deGroot said, “It has been a very long time that she has been competing and I feel very confident that she will do well. She is very disciplined and very focused”.
