ENet Senior CASA 2025: Fung-A-Fat, Khalil to battle for bronze; Ince through to semis

Guyana’s hopes for an individual women’s gold medal at the ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championships (CASA 2025) ended on Monday night in Georgetown, but the focus immediately shifts to an all-Guyanese battle for bronze and a massive semi-final test for national men’s champion Daniel Ince.

The tournament, hosted in Guyana after a necessary relocation from hurricane-hit Jamaica, saw the hosts put up a valiant fight in the women’s semi-finals at the National Racquet Centre.

Guyana’s top players, Mary Fung-A-Fat and Ashley Khalil, both succumbed to formidable opponents from rivals Barbados, setting up a clash between themselves for third place.

Fung-A-Fat, the 2024 runner-up, was defeated by the number-one seed Megan Best in three straight games (11-3, 11-8, 11-4).

Former Caribbean champion Khalil also went down in straight games to the defending champion, Margot Prow (BAR), losing 11-4, 11-7, 11-0 in a clinical display from the Barbadian.

The two Guyanese players will now face each other on Tuesday at 17:30h for the bronze medal, while the women’s final, featuring the two dominant Barbadians, is set for 19:00h.

Speaking after her earlier quarter-final win over higher-seeded Barbadian Amanda Yearwood,  Khalil expressed pride in her run and turned attention to the upcoming team event: “I am confident our teammates will give their best when we turn attention to the team segment.”

In the men’s individual competition, national champion Daniel Ince advanced to the quarter-finals, securing his spot in the last four.

Ince overcame countryman Jason-Ray Khalil in a four-game encounter, winning 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-6.

His reward is a daunting semi-final tie against two-time defending champion Khamal Cumberbatch (BAR). The match is scheduled for Tuesday at 11:40h.

Guyana’s other representative in the quarter-finals, former junior champion Shomar Wiltshire, was eliminated by Cumberbatch in straight sets (11-9, 11-6, 11-5).

From Wednesday, the championships shift entirely to the team segment, where the Guyanese squad will seek to secure a fifth consecutive overall CASA title.

FULL RESULTS: https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/Caribbean-Senior-Championships-CASA-2025-GUYANA