Arjoon, Fernandes are Digicel senior squash champions

By Treiston Joseph

Alex Arjoon retained his title as squash king when the curtains came down on the Digicel Senior Squash Championship last weekend at the Georgetown Club Courts.

Arjoon took to the court against Richard Chin and even though he won the match 3-1, it was one tough battle against the veteran.

While Chin displayed all of his experience to hold off Arjoon the best he could, the latter’s skill and court awareness was a sight to behold. Arjoon moved smoothly across the court with exquisite shot placement to fend off the veteran who was no slouch as the sets went 12-10, 12-10, 6-11 and 12-10.

Arjoon highlighted to News Room Sport after the match that he was thrilled to win the title for a sixth time and hopes to leave a “legacy” as the greatest squash player Guyana has ever seen.

Meanwhile, in the Ladies final, Nicolette Fernandes who had not played in the last two national opens, was pitted against defending champion Ashley Khalil. The first game went back and forth with Khalil holding her own against the world-rated player.

At 9-7 Khalil was two points away from taking the crucial first game, but Fernandes won the next four points to win the first game 11-9.

The second game was also close, but Fernades always seemed in control and won it 11-8. The match at this point was all but over and Khalil went down in a whimper with Fernandes winning 11-1.

In the Veterans category, Joe Mekdeci won both the 35–49 age category and Over-50 titles.

In the first classic Plate playoff, Jason Ray Khalil was matched up against Fernandes who was playing in the Men’s category for competition experience but was not being ranked.

Fernandes coming off a victory in the Women’s final while clearly a bit tired gave the younger Khalil a bit of a fight, but fell 3-1 to Jason with the set points going 11-4, 10-12, 11-7 and 11-6.

In the next classic Plate playoff, Shomari Wiltshire was matched against Jean Claude Jeffrey. Jean Claude easily won the first game 11-4, but then dropped a close second.

Results Summary:

Men’s Open

Alex Arjoon – Winner

Richard Chin – Second

Nyron Joseph – Third

Kristian Jeffrey – Fourth

Men’s Classic Plate

Jason Ray Khalil – Winner

Shomari Wiltshire – Second

Jean Claude Jeffrey – Third

Men’s Plate

Ben Mekdeci – Winner

Nicholas Narain – Second

Stephan Xavier – Third

Women’s Open

Nicolette Fernandes – Winner

Ashley Khalil – Second

Mary Fung-A-Fat – Third

Taylor Fernandes – Fourth

Women’s Plate

Makeda Harding – Winner

Victoria Arjoon – Second

Abosaide Cadogan – Third

Veterans 35 – 49

Joe Mekdeci – Winner

Khalil Alli – Second

Allan Downes – Third 

Veterans Over 50 

Joe Mekdeci – Winner

David Fernandes – Second

Robin Low – Third 

Prizes were presented to the winners by a representative from Digicel.