The annual Toucan Distributors Junior Skill Level tournament has commenced with the ultimate aim of filtering new talents into the sport.
The tournament serves to give the talents who are at the embryonic stages of development a chance to play against others at the said level and Wednesday’s opening night at the Georgetown Club Courts saw some players proving their mettle.
In Category C, Zachary Persaud defeated Shiloh Asregado 11-6, 11-3, 11-4. Persaud, with a longer reach, used his height to advantage and had some timed shots in the exciting encounter. Clearly fitness took a slight toll on both players, but the youthful exuberance of both made it entertaining.
After the match, Persaud noted he is happy to return to the courts after being part of the Junior Karting Series in Barbados and hopes to press for a national spot and take down Loius DaSilva.
Zachary’s cousin Nathan Rahaman was forced to work up a sweat to topple Beau Fernandes 7-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6. Rahaman explained he had to improve on his serves to win the match.
In the only Category A match of the evening, Shomari Wiltshire patiently rallied out an eager Michael Alphonso for a 3-0 victory. Despite Alphonso’s outstanding retrieval, Wiltshire’s accuracy, timing and pace dominated the match, which he won 11-2, 11-4, 11-0.
In Category B matches, a much-improved Mohryan Baksh faced the talented Abosaide Cadogan in a close bout.
After a 6-11 defeat in the first game, Baksh made an early bid in the second, pulling ahead before Cadogan closed the gap and in a point for point battle of exciting cross courts, drives and drops; he succumbed 12-14. Cadogan fought her way through the third to a 3-0 triumph.
Lucas Jonas gave an impressive performance against Kirsten Gomes in a five-game match where he dominated the T and played some magnificent cross courts.
Gomes was outplayed in the final game after levelling up 2-2 earlier in the match and Jonas took the win 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8.
In category F, Safirah Summer fought hard against Mathew Spooner in the second game reaching 13-15, but couldn’t hold on and Spooner earned his first win 11-6, 13-11.
Full Results:
Category A
Shomari Wiltshire defeated Michael Alphonso 11/2, 11/4, 11/0
Category B
Abosaide Cadogan defeated Mohryan Baksh 11/6, 14/12, 11/9
Lucas Jonas defeated Kirsten Gomes 11/6, 6/11, 11/9, 9/11, 11/8
Category C
Zachary Persaud defeated Shiloh Asregado 11/6, 11/3, 11/4
Rayad Boyce defeated Aishani Persaud 11/2, 11/5
Category D
Lajuan Munroe defeated Teija Edwards 11/4, 11/4, 11/3
Nathan Rahaman defeated Beau Fernandes 7/11, 11/2, 11/3, 11/6
Category E
Lucas Persaud defeated Arvin Seelall 11/6, 11/3
Dhiren Persaud defeated Angel Rahim 11/7, 11/5
Category F
Christiana Fernandes defeated Mailia Maikoo 11/2, 11/4
Matthew Spooner defeated Safirah Summer 11/6, 15/13
Grant Fernandes defeated Noah Rahaman 11/5, 11/8
Category G
Romero Muniram defeated Abhinav Singh 11/3, 11/7
William Escarraga defeated Brenno DaSilva 11/6, 11/2
Category H
Tianna Gomes defeated Eli Goveia 11/0, 11/3
Mathew Daby defeated Jnae Singh 11/3. 11/5
Solomon Ince-Carvalhal defeated Nicholas Sawh 11/3, 11/1
Shriya Persaud defeated Nicholas Sawh 11/2, 11/2
