The Guyana Badminton Association on Thursday honoured its late president and national coach Gokarn Ramdhani with the hosting of the first-ever memorial tournament, catering for competitors in the Under-23 Men and Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
The tournament commenced with a video tribute to Ramdhani, who represented Guyana in multiple international tournaments in the 1980s and 1990s.
Vice-president of the Guyana Badminton Association Ayanna Watson spoke of Ramdhani’s effervescent and fun-loving personality but most of all, his passion and love for the sport of badminton. He worked assiduously to get badminton on the regional and international level, she reflected.
During his tenure, Guyana was ranked in the top 50 for Juniors, and 49th in the world for Team segment.
Ramdhani was crucial in getting Guyana qualified for the Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and the CAC Games among others. Notably, he was the only qualified BWF Level 3 Coach, which is the highest level of certification in Badminton.
The late Ramdhani played a direct role in the upbringing and success of many players, among them Marlon Chung, Mark Chang, Ryan Chang, Nicholas Ali, Jonathan Mangra, Akili Haynes, Tyrese Jeffrey, Ambika Ramraj, Matthew Beharry, Mishka Beharry and his own children Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani.
During the tournament, the GBA executives also learnt of the tragedy involving the five soldiers from the Guyana Defence Force and a moment of silence was held in their honour.
The GBA wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and the entire Guyana on the loss of these fallen soldiers.
The tournament will wrap up with the category finals on Saturday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
Below are the summarised results from the games played on day one
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Haresh Persaud Nikolas Pollard 21-19, 20-22, 21-18
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Lennox Morrison Jedidiah Uwagboe 22-20, 21-17
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Jonathan Robinson Ruel Rambiriche 21-18, 22-20
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Akili Haynes Vishal Gopaul 21-6, 21-4
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- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Malia Haley Jefina James 21-13, 21-16
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Xavio Alexander Matthew Klautky 23-21, 21-6
- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Gianna Ramnarine Genvieve Bookram 17-21, 21-7, 21-11
- Men’s Doubles: Ernesto Choo-a-fat/Avinash Odit Omkar Persaud/Raoul Wilson 21-11, 21-8
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- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Jahiem Carmicheal Gabriel Felix 21-14, 15-21, 21-13
- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Asiyah Eastman Tyra Gomes 21-14, 21-9
- Mixed Doubles: Nkosi Beaton/Neveah Eastman Jason Stephney/Ambika Ramraj 21-18, 13-21,21-11
- Men’s Doubles: Joanathan Debidin/Frank Waddell Ryan Alexander/Colin Bowry 21-14, 21-19
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- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Jonathan Robinson Omkar Persaud 22-20, 21-15
- Men’s Doubles: Jahiem Carmicheal/Lennox Morrison Andrew Browne/Andrew Browne 22-20, 21-15
- Men’s Doubles: Chet Bowling/Xavio Alexander Gavin Cao/Anthony Stephens 21-14, 21-10
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- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Asiyah Eastman Malia Haley 21-14, 21-4
- Men’s Doubles: Akili Haynes/Tyrese Jeffrey Ruel Rambirche/Avinash Ramanrine 21-3, 21-9
- Men’s Doubles: Nkosi Beaton/Matthew Klautky Jedidiah Uwagboe/Haresh Persaud 21-12. 21-12
- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Neveah Eastman Gabrielle Felix 21-9, 21-8
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- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Alimah Eastman Leshaunte Berkley 21-19, 21-15
- Mixed Doubles: Medhi Ramdhani/Emily Ramdhani Andrew Browne/Tyra Gomes 21-14, 21-14
- Mixed Doubles: Akili Haynes/Ayanna Watson Frank Waddell/Malia Haley 21-13, 21-9
- Mixed Doubles: Wenyuan Chen/Anna Perreira Colin Bowry/Genvieve Bookram 21-11, 21-4
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- Men’s Doubles: Jahiem Carmicheal/Lennox Morrison Gabriel Felix/Nikolas Pollard 21-14, 21-15
- Mixed Doubles: Chet Bowling/Asiyah Eastman Marlon Chung/Leshaunte Berkley 22-20, 15-21, 21-16
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Nkosi Beaton Avinash Ramnarine 21-11, 21-11
- Under-23 Men’s Singles: Joanathan Debidin Haresh Persaud 21-8, 21-5
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- Under-23 Women’s Singles: Mishka Beharry Neveah Eastman 21-16, 21-10
- Mixed Doubles: Tyrese Jeffrey/Jefina James Gavin Cao/Gianna Ramnarine 21-9, 21-9
- Men’s Doubles: Marlon Chung/Wenyuan Chen Sekhar Mallampati/Jason Stephney 21-8, 21-14
Profound gratitude is extended to sponsors without whom this tournament would not have been possible; they are Massy Distributions (Blue Waters), Sol (Guyana) Inc. and Mr. Chet Bowling.
