Chris Binnie
Top seed Chris Binnie got off to a strong start at the Jamaica Squash Association's senior trials defeating the number-five seed Bruce Burrowes in straight sets 11-9, 11-9 and 11-8 at the Liguanea Club in Kingston on Thursday.
As the scores indicate, all three sets were competitive with Burrowes enjoying the lead over Binnie briefly in each set but was not able to convert any to a win.
"Good game. I think that shows, you come, you have to play and everyone is competitive and today he (Burrowes) took it to me and it was really close so I am happy to get a 3-0 win and I am looking forward to tomorrow (Friday)," said the nine-time Caribbean men’s singles champion.
"When you start playing events, you want to get that first win under your belt, you want to get that first match done with as well so little nerves to start getting used to the court. I am not based here so the courts I play on are a lot colder so getting used to all of that. I am super happy with how it ended. Hopefully tomorrow (Friday) I can be a little bit better and hopefully get another win."
Despite the loss, Burrowes was not unhappy with his play.
"Chris is a top notch player; Caribbean national player, Caribbean top player, top national player. He is definitely of a different level than the local boys that I am able to train with here but I was able to hold my own against him in the game with points 11-9, 11-9, 11-8,” he said.
“That's not bad even though it’s a 3-0 loss. (I) just have to move on to the next match. Wish Chris all the best in the rest of his matches and just hope that Jamaica can put together our strongest team of these trials."
The trials opened with number-four seed Dane Schwier defeating the number-six seed Stephan Morrison in straight sets.
Meanwhile, reigning national champion and number-two seed Julian Morrison beat the U19 champion and number-seven seed Tobias Levy 3-0.
The four-day trials to select Jamaica's team to the upcoming PanAm Games in June and the Senior Caribbean Squash Championship in August, continue on Friday with matches starting at 6:00 pm at the Liguanea Club.
Anti-doping hearing for Jamaican squash champion Julian Morrison set for September 3-4
The dates for the substantive anti-doping hearing for Jamaica’s national squash champion Julian Morrison have been set with his fate to be decided by an Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel on September 3-4.
The dates for the substantive hearing were set during an initial hearing featuring the representatives of both Morrison and the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) on Thursday afternoon.
Morrison is challenging the provisional suspension imposed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) after testing positive for trace amounts of Boldenone, a banned anabolic agent.
The suspension came following an out-of-competition test conducted on January 18th, 2024, where Morrison's results showed the presence of Boldenone in his system.
However, Morrison and his representatives strongly assert that the substance entered his body inadvertently, likely through contamination.
Jamaica Girls reap success at 2024 Caribbean Junior Squash Championship
The Girls team representing Jamaica at the 30th edition of the Junior Caribbean Squash Championship held in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, experienced great success with the team bringing home 6 medals: 2 gold; 3 silver and 1 bronze.
Mehar Trehan was the sole gold medallist in the individual competition defending her title in the U17 Girls category defeating her compatriot, Elle Wilson 3-0. Trehan was strong from the outset and dominated her category and defeated all her opponents 3-0; without dropping a set. Wilson had a more difficult route to the final and had to overcome Sarrayah Yearwood of Trinidad & Tobago in 5 games.
The doubles partnership of Sanjana Nallapati (Captain) and Katherine Risden captured the gold defeating their Barbadian counterparts and number 1 seed of Eboni Atherley and Joanna Atkins 2-1. The Jamaican duo had to overcome a 1-set deficit to defeat the Bajans in a closely contested final; 9/11; 11/6, 11/9.
In the Girls U19 catergory, Jamaica had two competitors, Katherine Risden, the #1 seed, and Sanjana Nallapati (Captain and #3 seed) vying for the top spot but they were denied gold both at the racquet of the eventual champion, Eboni Atherley of Barbados. Atherley dispatched Nallapati in the semis and Risden in the finals both with 3-0 victories. Risden and Nallapati captured silver and bronze respectively in the U19 girls individual competition.
In her first Junior CASA tourney, Varenya Singh reached the semifinal of the U11 competition. Singh played with composure and grit for someone so young. She secured a 4th place finish in the U11 girls individual competition.
The Jamaican Girls continued their winning ways in the Team event by earning the silver medal losing out to Barbados after the matches were knotted at 3 games a-piece.
Jamaica started strong in the final with Risden overturning her individual loss to Atherley by winning 3-0. Captain Nallapati and U17 Girls Champion Mehar Trehan secured 3-0 victories. However, Barbados needed the final tie at U13 to equalize and force a count back in games.
Marley Price fought valiantly but lost to the #2 seed forcing a tiebreak. The tiebreak was broken on a countback of games won between the two teams. Throughout the team event, various team members played key roles to ensure Jamaica reached the final. In particular, Marley Price secured one game in the semifinal match which ensured Jamaica reached the final on game countback.
Coach Tahjia Lumley stated, “the team is one of the best in terms of their fighting spirit and camaraderie. From the youngest to the oldest we are not far off! Gold in doubles and the girls going all the way in the team event! This was an extremely young boys team with many playing up in age-group. This has been an amazing experience for them and they are looking forward to continue to improve for next year’s event.”
Jamaica finished 4th in the overall standings with the girls in 2nd place and boys team finishing in 8th place.
Jamaica’s medal haul was 2 gold; 3 silver; and 1 bronze.
The team was coached by Tahjia Lumley and managed by Nathlee Boreland.
Blown captures first KPMG squash title with thrilling victory over Fantastic Warriors
Blown emerged triumphant in a thrilling final of the 24th KPMG Squash League, defeating Fantastic Warriors in a fiercely contested showdown at the Liguanea Club. This victory marks Blown's inaugural championship title in the league, solidifying their place among Jamaica's squash elite.
The final match unfolded with nail-biting intensity as Blown navigated through a series of competitive encounters against their resilient opponents.
Blown initially faced adversity when Anthony Mahfood fell short in a closely contested match against Nabeel Jawad from the Fantastic Warriors. Mahfood displayed determination but ultimately succumbed to Jawad's precision, with scores of 16-21, 21-5, 10-21, 16-21.
However, Blown swiftly regained momentum with a standout performance from captain Jake Mahfood, who demonstrated exceptional skill and energy against Fantastic Warriors' captain Stewart Maxwell. Mahfood's dominance on the court was evident as he claimed victory in straight sets, with scores of 21-15, 21-15, 21-14, leveling the match at one apiece and setting the stage for a decisive third match.
In the pivotal third encounter, Andrew Bicknell demonstrated clinical prowess against Andre Sewell of the Fantastic Warriors, sealing the championship for Blown in commanding fashion with scores of 21-15, 21-20, 21-14.
Reflecting on the team's achievement, Captain Mahfood expressed gratitude to his teammates for their unflinching support throughout the tournament, highlighting Andrew Bicknell's exceptional performance as instrumental to their success.
"It's fantastic. It's a great tournament. It's been a phenomenal tournament, and we look forward to next year to defend our title," remarked Mahfood, exuding pride for Blown's victory.
Mahfood's stellar contributions did not go unnoticed, as he was honoured with the coveted MVP award, a testament to his leadership and on-court excellence. Fraser McConnell, another key member of the Blown team, played an integral role in their championship journey.
In response to the defeat, Stewart Maxwell of the Fantastic Warriors acknowledged the formidable skill and youthfulness of the Blown team, commending their superior performance on the court.
"When you have superior players whose shot placements give you a guided tour of the four corners of the court, that's exactly what happened," remarked Maxwell, highlighting the level of skill exhibited by the Blown squad.
Despite the outcome, Maxwell expressed optimism for the future, aiming to elevate the Fantastic Warriors' performance in the next edition of the KPMG Squash League.
The KPMG Squash League, widely regarded for its quality and longevity, received high praise from Tarun Handa, KPMG's senior partner, who highlighted the league's alignment with the organization's core values of integrity, excellence, and teamwork.
Karen Anderson, president of Jamaica Squash, echoed sentiments of satisfaction, emphasizing the event's inclusivity and significance in promoting the sport across diverse demographics.
As Blown celebrates their historic victory, the squash community eagerly anticipates the continued growth and success of the KPMG Squash League, fueled by enduring partnerships with sponsors like KPMG and new supporters like WATA, who contribute to the sport's flourishing development in Jamaica.
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