TT players crash out CAREBACO Open

NICKOLAI MADRAY

Trinidad and Tobago’s Badminton Team could not replicate the same success they enjoyed in the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Junior tournament as none of the singles nor doubles teams progressed to the quarter-final round of the CAREBACO Open which took place yesterday. All eight teams and seven individual players representing the hosts were eliminated on Tuesday’s opening of the international singles championships at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua.

In the Men’s Singles, TT’s Jason Ramjass lost out to the top seed Karan Rajan Rajarajan of India, 21-6, 21-9 in their match up. Naim Mohammed eventually succumbed to his Dominican Republic rival, Reimi Starling Cabrera Rosario, in their hard fought battle 20-22, 21-13, 21-17. Naim Mohammed (TT) was taken to the hospital, due to falling ill from the virus, and was unable to participate in both of his doubles matches.

The longest match of the day in the CAREBACO Open lasted one hour and thirteen minute and seemed like a marathon between Peruvians Daniel La Torre Regal and Jose Guevara. At the end of the gruelling contest, with both players showing visible signs of fatigue, Guevara pulled off a 22-24, 21-19, 21-19 win over his fellow countryman to advance to the quarterfinals.

There were no other surprises in the Men’s side of the draw as the top four seeds progressed to the next round.

The Women’s Singles saw TT’s Arielle Gomez bowing out to Montoya Riviera of Barbados 21-14, 21-8. Avril Plaza Marcelle and Nekeisha Blake, both representing the hosts, followed in Gomez’s path as they exited the tournament. Marcelle lost out to her Bajan rival Tamisha Williams 21-8, 21-12 while Blake fell victim to Santusha Ramzan of Suriname 21-16, 21-15.

The two seeded Dominican Republic players were ousted from the Women’s Singles draw as they lost to their Peruvian opponents. Nairoby Jimenez could not muster revenge against her victor from the CAREBACO Under 19 International, Paula La Torre Regal, as she lost in straight sets 21-14, 21-8. Bermary Altagarcia Polanco Munoz suffered the same fate, losing to Ines Castillo, 21-8 21-11. Jamie Subandhi of the United States and Daniella Macias of Peru, had safe passages through to the quarter-finals, defeating their opponents Ariel Lee, also of USA, and Bajan Monyata Riviera 21- 5, 21-4 and 21-9, 21-13, respectively.

TT suffered the same faith in the doubles categories as Renaldo Sinanan and his partner Leanna Castanada lost in their match against Anthony Mc Nee and Shari Hope of Barbados 21-16, 21-7 during the Mixed event. TT’s Brandon Graham and Cindy Ramroop also exited the tournament after they confronted Peruvians Bruno Deza and Ines Castillo but fell 21-10, 21-9.

There was an early exit for the No. 2 seeds in the Mixed Doubles, Paula La Torre Regal and Diego Mini representing Peru played the very strong Dominican Republic pairing of Nairoby Jimenez and Cesar Brito Gonzalez. Jimenez and Brito Gonzalez continued to press and wore down their opponents to register a 16-21, 21-17, 21-17 victory. There were no other scares in the doubles competition as the teams expected to vie for medals all made it to the quarterfinal round.

Sinanan also lost in the Men’s Doubles with counterpart Jeremy Lewis, crashing out to their Jamaican opponents Joel Angus and Shane Wilson 21-10, 21-13. Following them were TT’s Plaza Marcelle and her Bajan partner Shari Hope as they bowed out 21-12, 21-19, to Noemi Almonte and Bernary Polanco Munoz of the Dominican Republic.