Junior CASA 2026: Gold for Arjoon, Munroe and Lowe as Guyana bags seven individual medals

Guyana’s junior squash stars dominated the courts at the 2026 Junior Caribbean Championships (CASA), securing a brilliant haul of three gold, three silver, and a bronze medal as the individual events reached a thrilling conclusion in the British Virgin Islands on Sunday.

The headlines belonged to a stunning, all-Guyanese showdown and a gritty, back-to-back title defence that cemented Guyana’s status as a powerhouse in regional junior squash.

The standout match of the final day saw Kaylee Lowe retain her crown in a breathtaking, five-game Girls U-17 final against compatriot Emily Fung-a-Fat.

Lowe dropped the opening game 9-11 but showed immense resilience to edge a tense second 13-11.

After trading the next two games, Lowe relied on her championship experience to seal the deciding fifth game, finishing 9-11, 13-11, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11 in a spectacular showcase of Guyanese talent.

Fung-a-fat was forced to settle for a hard-fought silver yet again.

“Being a two-time CASA Gold Medal Champion is truly an incredible feeling,” an emotional Lowe said after the match. “To win this title once was a dream come true, but to defend it and win it for a second consecutive year means even more to me. This gold medal represents countless hours of training, early mornings, sacrifices, and the unwavering belief that hard work always pays off.

There was more gold for Guyana in the Girls U-13 division, which featured another all-domestic final. Close friends became fierce rivals on the court as Tehani Munroe squared off against Zoey McDonald.

Despite their familiarity, neither player held back. It was Munroe who ultimately found the extra gear to navigate the pressure points, turning around an early deficit to secure the title with an 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 9-11 victory. McDonald took home a highly commendable silver.

Guyana’s golden tally was completed by Alexis Arjoon, who put on a clinical display throughout the tournament to be crowned the Girls U-11 Champion.

In the Boys U-15 category, it was a bittersweet day for the Bulkan family, though both brothers finished on the podium.

Egan Bulkan fought valiantly in his gold-medal match against the British Virgin Islands’ Jakob, but ultimately fell just short in a tight four-game battle, settling for silver with a 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 7-11 scoreline.

His brother, Ethan Bulkan, ensured he wouldn’t leave empty-handed, bouncing back in style to claim the bronze medal as Ethan produced a dominant performance to sweep past Barbados’ Ethan Cyrus in straight games, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2.

Elsewhere, Guyanese players found it tough going against strong regional opposition in the remaining bronze medal matches.

In the Boys U-13 bracket, Zion Hickerson fought hard but was downed in straight games by Barbados’ Finn Graham (9-11, 10-12, 5-11); likewise, in the U-19 divisions, Shiloh Asregado put up a strong fight against second seed Jaydon Williams but was eliminated 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 6-11.

Moreover, Malia Maikoo competed fiercely in the Girls U-19 line-up but was bested by Elle Wilson, who won 12-10, 11-8, 11-7.

The contingent will look to carry this incredible momentum forward into the upcoming Doubles and Team events.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: https://sportyhq.com/tournament/view/2026-Junior-Caribbean-Championships-JrCASA

TEAM RESULTS: https://sportyhq.com/tournament/view/2026-Junior-Caribbean-Championships-Team-Championships