Pan Am Squash: Wins for Fernandes and Khalil in mixed start for Guyana

Ladies team captain, Nicolette Fernandes and Ashely Khalil secured victories at the ongoing senior Pan American Squash Championships in Guatemala.

On Monday, Fernandes opened her account with an 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 11-8 triumph over Colombia’s Lucia Bautista. She was scheduled to play her second game on Monday night.

On Sunday, Khalil defeated Emma Turnbull of the Cayman Islands 11-4, 11-6, 11-6, but on Monday, went down to Valentina Portieri in a battle that ended 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10 in the Argentine’s favour.

She will team up with her brother Jason-Ray Khalil to contest the Mixed Doubles against Jose Toscano and Tabita Gaitan of the host nation.

Argentina got the better of Guyana again as Pilar Etchechoury defeated Gabrielle Fraser 11-3, 11-9, 11-3, while on Monday, Ecuador’s Ariana Alava topped Marry Fung-A-Fat 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.

In the Men’s division, Kristian Jeffrey was defeated by Junior Alejandro Enriquez of Guatemala 3-11, 2-11, 5-11, while Jason-Ray lost by an identical margin to Leandro Romiglio of Argentina.

The Argentines seem to have a grip over Guyana as Jeremias Azaña topped the youthful exuberance of Samuel Ince-Carvalhal 11-3, 11-5, 11-9 and Chile’s Sebastian Gallegos overcame Alex Arjoon 11-4, 11-5, 11-3.

Meanwhile, Fraser and Fung-A-Fat will partner for the Women’s Double clash against Ecuador, while Arjoon and Jeffrey will team up to face Peru.