Guyana's Ramon Chan-A-Sue returned unopposed as Caribbean Area Squash Association president

By Sports Desk August 25, 2022

Guyana’s Ramon Chan-A-Sue was returned unopposed as president of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) during the association’s Annual General Meeting held at the Liguanea Club in Kingston on Wednesday, August 24.

Janet Sairsingh of the Cayman Islands was elected vice president while Kevin Hannaway of St Vincent and the Grenadines was elected secretary. Bermuda’s Nick Kyme is the treasurer. Each of the eight-member countries will appoint a director before October 2022.

During the AGM it was decided that the junior and senior championships will be held in 2023. However, a host nation will be selected by October 2022. At those championships that a doubles category will be added for the junior Championships, while women over 60 will play in the senior championship.

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  • Ja's swimmers boast big dreams, but money woes linger; team manager pleas for help as Carifta budget at $400,000 per swimmer Ja's swimmers boast big dreams, but money woes linger; team manager pleas for help as Carifta budget at $400,000 per swimmer

    Raising an elite athlete is a financial challenge. That is something Jamaica’s swim parents know more than most, as they are stuck with the age-old burden of footing the cost to have their children represent the country.

    Aside from occasional assistance from the ministry of sport and the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica’s (ASAJ), which covers a percentage of funding to some regional meets, or even when reimbursements are to come from World Aquatics, formerly FINA, for participation at some international meets, the task of covering travel expenses often leaves parents on edge to the point where they have to choose and refuse invitations to certain events.

    The idea of not competing at certain events also takes a toll on the athletes, who at different levels of their respective careers, would be eager to rub shoulders with others from across the region or elsewhere around the world as part of their development.

    In fact, while all swimmers at their respective levels are talented and focused, the hard truth is that it is those with the superior training and resources –hefty financial resources –who pull away from the pack.

    It is with this in mind that Annelies Denny has reiterated the call for corporate Jamaica to partner with the ASAJ and parents to ensure that the country’s next Olympian doesn’t get left behind.

    Denny, who will serve as Jamaica’s team manager to the Carifta Aquatics Championships, made the appeal as parents stare down a $400,000 budget to have their child participate at this year’s 37th edition of the event in The Bahamas from March 28 to April 7.

    “We know swimming is not track and field as yet. We don't have that breakout star. Alia Atkinson has now retired and so I understand that corporate Jamaica may feel where is your Olympic medal or where is your world championship medal. I do understand that, but we would really welcome the opportunity to partner with you,” Denny said in a heartfelt plea.

    “Some of these kids really have the potential to not just go to the Olympics or World Championship, but to actually do really well at the (age-group) level. But it's going to take a corporation to partner with us to make that happen. What you find is because they start competing at this young age group level, what happens is by the time the swimmers are physically matured and are ready to take it to that next level, the parents are kind of all tapped out because we bear the bulk of the cost,” she told SportsMax.TV.

    While declaring that parents are happy to make the financial sacrifices in certain regards, it is during the build up to, and for participation at regional and international competitions that they require assistance to offset expenses.

    Denny explained that partnering with the ASAJ also presents the opportunity for exposure to the company’s brand.

    “Obviously, there's a lot of nutrition to think about, there's healthcare as well as your coaching fees. A technical suit which they have to race in, it can run up to US$500 or US$600, including the goggles, equipment, all of those things. So we bear those costs on a daily and ongoing basis. It is when it comes down to competitions where you're representing your country, you're looking for that partnership because these are age group swimmers,” Denny noted.

    She continued: “So after a while it becomes a great burden, and you just can't do it anymore. And so, this is where we really need some partnerships because I think there's a lot of opportunity not just for the swimmers to do well, but also to, there's opportunity for branding and publicity that is unrivaled.

    “When I think of the swimmers' deck T-shirts, those that they wear on the deck or the track suits, every time they're on the podium, you see the brand. It's a source of pride for them to wear the team T-shirt and bag and if a company’s brand is on those, it means their brand is being seen several times a week by hundreds of people all the time. So that’s one avenue and we're really ramping up our social media presence so there's a lot of opportunity there and I would just love for somebody to call and say they are on board.”

    That said, Denny pointed out that the parent body under the guidance of the ASAJ’s sponsorship committee used initiatives, such as a bake sale to raise funds, which is a mere drop in the bucket when the overall figure of the team is taken into account.

    Still, she remains cautiously optimistic that all members of the 28-strong team, will make the trip to assist the country in surpassing its fourth-place finish from last year’s event.

    This year’s event, which serves as an Olympic qualifier, will also feature an 18 and over category to assist those swimmers hunting the Olympic qualifying standards.

    “It is a strong team and so we're looking forward to some very strong performances from them. So, if there's anybody in corporate Jamaica who would like to get on board with this team and give them a hand, please don't hesitate to contact us,” Denny declared.

    “We earned some money from the bake sale, and we’ve asked all of our swimmers on the Carifta team to go out and beg their school friends, auntie and uncle or teacher to just give a donation pledge for the number of laps they're going to swim at the event. This is to again help us collectively reduce the cost and we're still waiting to hear back from the Sports Development Foundation, so hopefully we'll get a decent amount from them as well,” she ended.

    Teams: Girls -Kai Lawson, Kia Alert, Alexandria Cogle, Jessica Denniston, Skyelar Richards, Alyssa Jefferson, Imani-Leigh Hall, Leah Chin, Christanya Shirley, Carolyn Levy-Powell, Giani Francis, Leanna Wainwright, Sabrina Lyn, Aliyah Heaven, Lia Forrester

    Boys -Noah Parker, Arush Rochlani, Matthew Heaven, Matthew Kennedy, Kai Radcliffe, Noah Barrett, Noland Barrett, Adlai Nixon, Nelson Denny, Brady Lewison, Zack-Andre Johnson, Benjamin Davis, Malcolm McKenzie

    Officials: Annelies Denny (Manager), Kafia Rapley (Coach), Adolfo Morales Claro (Coach), Lemone Lowe (Assistant coach), Carleene Grant-Davis (Doctor), Anthony Miller (Physiotherapist), Michelle Parker (Chaperone)

  • Walters to continue comeback with headline bout against American Adorno on March 27 Walters to continue comeback with headline bout against American Adorno on March 27

    Jamaica’s former World Boxing Association (WBA) Super featherweight champion Nicholas “Axe man” Walters is set to continue his comeback later this month, when he squares off with American Joseph Adorno, at the White Sands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

    Walters, who went into retirement shortly after he lost his unbeaten record to former pound for pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko in a seven-round bout in November 2016, will be hoping to extend his winning momentum on return to the ring for his 2024 debut on Wednesday, March 27. 

    The 38-year-old Walters had comeback victories over Luis Marmol in Colombia February 2023, and Reynaldo Esquivia, nine months later, and another against Adorno would certainly add impetus to his charge going forward.

    Although he doesn’t have a particular opponent that he craves, Walters hopes to get in the mix for big fights after this rust-shedding exercise.

    “My plan is to go down to 135, where the real warriors are fighting – all the big names. Being a world champion at 135 and a double-world champ [is the goal],” Walters said in a previous interview.

    The Panama-based Walters boasts a ring record of 28 wins (22 kos) against one loss and one draw, while Adorno has 18 wins (15 kos) against three losses and two draws.

    Walters had turned pro in 2008 after an amateur career that included bronze at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and two gold medals at the Caribbean Championships in 2005 and 2006. Within a few years he became one of the world’s most exciting fighters of the lower weight divisions after defeating big names like Nonito Donaire and Vic Darchinyan.

    Originally from Montego Bay on Jamaica’s north coast, Walters became the first Jamaican ever to win a world boxing title at home when he defeated Daulis Prescott via a seventh round TKO to cop the WBA World Featherweight title in December 2012.

  • Terrelonge, Dunkley, East named in strong Jamaican Carifta Games team Terrelonge, Dunkley, East named in strong Jamaican Carifta Games team

    Edwin Allen High’s Theianna Lee Terrelonge and former St Elizabeth Technical runner Javorne Dunkley headline Jamaica’s 79-member team to represent the island at the 51st Carifta Games to be held at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada from March 30 to April 1.

    The team, which was released by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) on Friday, is expected to be bolstered by the top eligible Jamaican women’s Heptathlon and men’s Decathlon finishers from the ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, which is scheduled for March 19-23 at the National Stadium.

    With this another talented team selected from the Carifta Trials held two weeks ago, Jamaica will be aiming to defend their title and, by extension, secure a 38th straight win at the three-day championships.

    Jamaica with a total of 78 medals –40 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze –topped the medals standings at last year’s 50th edition of the meet held in the Bahamas.

    NB: The Easter Weekend spectacle will be streamed live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.

    Jamaica’s team –Female Under-17: Natrece East, Poshannalee Blake, Shannia Campbell, Nastassia Fletcher, Tresha-Lee Sutherland, Britannia Bailey, Kevongaye Fowler, Alikay Reynolds, Dallia Fairweather, Malayia Duncan, Angel Robinson, Alyssa Carty, Sashana Johnson, Zavien Bernard, Jaeda Robinson, Jamelia Young, Jessica Thompson, Jessica Thompson and Zoelle Jamel

    Female Under- 20: Theianna Lee Terrelonge, Sabrina Dockery, Shanoya Douglas, Abigail Campbell, Shanque Williams, Monique Stewart, Kitania Headley, Rickeisha Simms, Kaydeen Johnson, Ashara Frater, Habiba Harris, Briana Campbell, Kelly Ann Carr, Aaliyah Mullings, Rohanna Sudlow, Richelle Stanley, Rasheda Samuels, Deijanae Bruce, Dionjah Shaw, Najhada Seymoure and Kimeka Smith.

    Male Under -17: Nyrone Wade, Malike Nugent, Oshane Jervis, Byron Walker, Nickecoy Bramwell, Paul Henry, Keandre Kelly, Alejandro Palmer, Shemar Green, Sekani Brown, Michael Dwyer, Robert Miller, Francisco Williams, Rodeeki Walters, Amani Phillips, Patrick Brown, Zachary Merchant, Kamari Kennedy and Javontae Smith

    Male Under- 20: Javorne Dunkley, Raheem Pinnock, Gary Card, Jonah-Ramaldo Smythe, Marcinho Rose, Javaughn Pinnock, Kemario Bygrave, Yoshane Bowen, Jaquan Coke, Shaquane Gordon, Daniel Beckford, Shamer Blake, Princewell Martin, Rickoy Hunter, Jevontae Grant, Romaine Lewis, Shaiquan Dunn, Chad Hendricks, Rajay Hemmings and Brandon Fletcher.

    Management team: David Wilson (Chef de Mission), Corinne Clarke (Manager), Courtney Lewis (Assistant Manager), David Riley (Technical Leader)

    Coaches: Michael Dyke, Michael Carr, Leford Grant, Milton Sergeant, Damion Reid, Maurice Wignall, Camile Ennis

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