Guyana females crowned Caribbean Squash Champs

With Guyana’s male team failing to defend their title, the female unit did not disappoint and retained their crown, downing Barbados 3-2 in the finale of the Caribbean Squash Association Championships Team Tourney which concluded in the Cayman Islands yesterday.

With the fixture tied 2-2 going into the fifth round, Akeila Wiltshire clinched the matchup for Guyana as she downed Meagan Best 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 and 11-9. Prior to the conclusion, Ashley DeGroot gave Guyana the perfect start, crushing Nadia McCarthy 11-7, 11-6 and 11-6.

Barbados then equalised in the second round as Amanda Heywood squeaked past Mary Fung-A-Fat 13-11, 8-11, 11-4, 8-11 and 11-9. The Barbadians would then take the lead as individual champion Karen Meakins dismissed Ashley Khalil 11-8, 12-10 and 11-6.

We are the champs! The Guyana female squash team, left to right, Larissa Wiltshire, Akeila Wiltshire, Ashley Khalil, Victoria Arjoon, Ashley DeGroot and Mary Fung-A-Fat celebrating after defeating Barbados in the finale to successfully retain their title in the Cayman Islands yesterday. (Photo compliments of Squashsite.co.uk/casa)
We are the champs! The Guyana female squash team, left to right, Larissa Wiltshire, Akeila Wiltshire, Ashley Khalil, Victoria Arjoon, Ashley DeGroot and Mary Fung-A-Fat celebrating after defeating Barbados in the finale to successfully retain their title in the Cayman Islands yesterday. (Photo compliments of Squashsite.co.uk/casa)

However, Guyana battled back in the fourth round as Larissa Wiltshire defeated Alex Jordan 11-5, 11-9 and 11-9 to set up the fixture’s eventual end. In their earlier semi-final fixture, Guyana defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-2.

Akeila Wiltshire secured the opening win for Guyana as she defeated Amy Gillezeau 14-12, 6-11, 11-4 and 11-4. The Trinidadians would equalise in the second round as Marie Claire Barcant defeated Larissa Wiltshire 11-0, 11-0 and 11-0.

Guyana retook the advantage in the third round as Ashley Khalil defeated Charlotte Snaggs 11-9, 13-11 and 11-9 before Ashley DeGroot securing their berth to the final, downing Faith Gillezeau 11-6, 11-3, 4-11 and 11-5. In the final matchup, Rhea Khan defeated Mary Fung-A-Fat 11-0, 11-0 and 11-0.

On the male side, Guyana secured the third position after defeating Barbados by a 3-2 margin. In their earlier semi-final round, Guyana went down to Trinidad and Tobago 4-1.

Mandela Patrick defeated Jason Khalil 11-5, 5-11, 11-4 and 11-8 to give the Trinidadians the early lead before Don Lee defeated Nicholas Narain 11-9, 11-7 and 11-5 to make it 2-0. Sunil Seth then pulled one back for Guyana as he defeated Kale Wilson 11-8, 11-4 and 11-8.

However, Trinidad and Tobago would close out the fixture in the fourth round as Joshua Pollard defeated Nyron Joseph 11-8, 11-1 and 11-6. Nku Patrick then completed the score line, defeating Richard Chin 11-0, 11-0 and 11-0.