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• Richardson, Angus win open titles at week one of 2024 All Jamaica Badminton Championships

  Tahlia Richardson and Joel Angus were the female and male open winners at week one of the 2024 All Jamaica Badminton Championships at the YMCA in Kingston over the weekend.

  Richardson won the women’s open title by two sets to none (21-10, 21-14) over Alexandra Beckford while Angus won the men’s open crown two sets to one win over Craig Allison.

  Angus won the first set 21-18 before Allison tied proceedings with a 21-13 second set win. Angus then prevailed 21-13 in the last set to claim the title.

  It was a fruitful weekend for Richardson who also took titles in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

  She partnered with Breanna Bisnott to defeat the pair of Mikaelah Mustafaa and Jade Ranger 21-11, 21-9 in women’s doubles before teaming up with Anthony McNee to defeat Kenneth Anglin and Mustafaa 21-16, 21-7 in mixed doubles.

  McNee also claimed the men’s doubles title alongside Kemar Valentine with a 21-19, 21-17 win over Craig Allison and Mickhail Williams.

  Brianna Burke and Samuel Smith claimed the top female and male prizes in the new Rising Shuttler category.

  Burke defeated Sue-Ann Ogle 21-9, 21-18 to claim the title while Smith won the men’s title in a walkover over Daniel Ford.

   In the junior championships held on November 16 and 17, 14-year-old Amir McBean was dominant, winning the boys singles titles at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level.

  He won the Under-17 title 21-10, 21-5 over Jhevado Ross and won the Under-19 crown with a 21-10, 21-10 win over his brother Jorie McBean.

  At Under-15, he defeated Justin Dillon 21-10, 21-5. He also teamed up with Matheus Smith to win the doubles title 21-7, 21-11 over Cameron Crooks and Nicholas Francis.

  The Under-19 girls singles crown went to Jade Ranger thanks to a dominant 21-4, 21-4 win over Amelia Dawkins.

  Ranger also won the titles in girls doubles and mixed doubles. She teamed up with Cassandra Russell to win the girls doubles crown 21-16, 21-2 over Daviannia Francis and Rachel Rainsford before teaming with Samuel Smith to win mixed doubles 21-3, 21-1 over Trevar Hunt and Faithe Beavfort.

  Sue-Ann Ogle won a three-set affair to claim the Under-17 girls singles title over Ruthann Wadgle. Ogle lost the first set 12-21 before bouncing back to win the next two 21-13, 21-17.

  Ogle also won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in the Under-15 category. She won another three-setter to claim the singles title against Najia Henry, losing the first set 13-21 before rallying to win the next two 21-16 and 21-7.

  She teamed up with Abigail Harvey to win the doubles title over Najia Henry and Danielle Morgan 21-9, 21-13 before her and Matheus Smith claimed the mixed doubles title in a walkover.

  The other age group champions include Justin Dillon (Under-13 boys singles), Ella Belle Palmer (Under-13 girls singles), Zachary Gardner (Under-11 boys singles), Jillian Yap (Under-11 and Under-9 girls singles), Zamani Allen (Under-9 boys singles).

   

   

• All-Jamaica National Junior Championships set for this weekend, with Seniors to follow

  The Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA) is set to stage the All-Jamaica National Junior Badminton Championships, set for Saturday, November 16, and Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the Kingston YMCA.

  This highly anticipated event will showcase the country’s most promising junior badminton talent, with a strong focus on the Under-19 category. The following weekend, on November 23 and 24, Jamaica’s top senior players will take to the court for the All-Jamaica National Open Championships, where they will vie for national titles in an intense knockout competition.

  JBA President Vishwanauth Tolan expressed excitement about the event and shared details on ts special highlights.

  “The tournament will be held at the Kingston YMCA. National champions will be crowned in each age group and category, and special prizes will be designated for some of the top performances for the year. We will also recognize our honourees Audley Astwood and Marcia Williams, for their long-term support of badminton, and particularly their leadership of the schools’ league competition for the past three decades,” Tolan said.

  The JBA president also revealed that there will be a new category will be added to the championship.

  “The first weekend will feature the inaugural ‘Rising Shuttler’ category, which will be open to players in the C and D divisions. We will crown the first ever Rising Shuttler Champions.”

  

  The junior championships will feature rising stars in the Under-19 category. On the boys' side, 14-year-old Amir McBean, the reigning Under-15 and Under-17 champion, enters as the top seed. His brother, 17-year-old Jorie McBean, follows as the second seed. Both Amir and Jorie were semifinalists in last year’s Under-19 singles and are poised for a strong showing this year. Among the girls, top seed Jade Ranger, last year’s Under-17 champion and Under-19 finalist, will face Amelia Dawkins in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.

  In the doubles events, Daniel Ford and Joseph Morrison are seeded number one in the boys' division, while Jade Ranger pairs with Cassandra Russell as the top seed for the girls. The mixed doubles will see the formidable team of Samuel Smith and Jade Ranger leading the bracket.

  

  For the senior championships on November 23-24, Jamaica’s best badminton talent will compete for national titles. Leading the women’s singles, Tahlia Richardson is anticipated to dominate, while the men’s singles event is set for an exciting showdown between top-ranked Joel Angus and second-ranked Craig Allison, who recently defeated Angus in a tournament final. With a knockout format, the stakes are high as the nation’s elite players battle for top honours.

  Looking Ahead to 2025 In addition to the national championships, the JBA is excited to announce plans for an active 2025 season, with the full tournament schedule to be finalized in December. Key events slated for the first quarter include the Schools League Final, Schools Knockout Final, the Tournament of Kings and Queens, and Doubles Mania. Moving into thesecond quarter, the JBA will host the Junior Classics and the Prep/Primary Championship. The summer months will see the association prepare a junior team to represent Jamaica at the CAREBACO Championships and Pan Am Junior Championships.

   

• Successful inaugural badminton summit inspires with holistic approach to athletic success

  The inaugural Badminton Summit, held on Saturday, proved a resounding success, drawing in 93 attendees throughout the day and surpassing 100 participants with the inclusion of panelists. The event offered a platform for badminton players, parents, sports professionals, and fans to delve into essential topics related to athlete development, mental health, and personal branding, all within a supportive and interactive setting.

   Patrons left the summit equipped with crucial insights into holistic athletic development, covering everything from training, sleep, and nutrition, to the importance of warm-ups and recovery routines. Additionally, the discussions highlighted the mind-body connection, emphasizing the value of setting SMART goals and understanding that anxiety, though often perceived negatively, can be a normal and even beneficial response, indicating genuine interest and engagement.

   One of the key lessons from the summit was the importance of mental health management, social media presence, and building a support team to help achieve athletic goals. These insights offered attendees a comprehensive view of what it takes to succeed not only in badminton but in any high-performance sporting environment.

   Mariah Ramharack, moderator for the event and a presenter on the popular SportsMax show SportsMax Zone, praised the summit's wide-reaching impact. "Overall, the summit was a success in multiple aspects! Firstly, as the moderator, I must say the turnout was very encouraging and not only limited to badminton players. The age group of the participants ranged from the bright-eyed little boy or girl enthusiastic about sport to their parents, grandparents, and key stakeholders in sport."

   

  Ramharack also commended the summit’s openness, which allowed participants to engage directly with experts, ensuring no questions went unanswered. "At the end of the summit, even I benefited from the fruitful discussions. What I enjoyed most was the openness afforded at the forum—the ability for the participants to ask their questions directly to the experts. In that way, no one left the room with an unanswered question, and each person felt involved in what was happening."

   The summit’s sessions were thoughtfully designed to address key aspects of athlete development. The first topic, titled "The Power Play," delved into the importance of effective athlete management, where experts discussed strategies to optimize training and performance while balancing the demands of competitive sports. Following that, "Mind and Muscle: Fueling the Champion Within" explored the mental and physical synergy required to achieve peak performance. Panelists emphasized the importance of the mind-body connection, sharing insights into mental resilience, focus, and the role of physical conditioning in building a champion mindset.

   Finally, the session on "Brand You: Crafting Your Legacy Beyond the Court" highlighted the importance of personal branding for athletes, guiding participants on how to build a lasting legacy that extends beyond their sporting achievements. This session covered the effective use of social media to engage fans and attract potential sponsors, as well as strategies for establishing a personal brand that reflects athletes' values and aspirations.

   These topics provided attendees with a holistic view of what it takes to succeed both on and off the court, underscoring the importance of mental fortitude, physical preparation, and the ability to create a meaningful impact beyond competition.

   The sessions were brought to life by a stellar lineup of speakers, including IAAF World Championship silver medalist Fedrick Dacres, Jamaica Olympic Association Vice President Robert Scott, PFJL CEO Owen Hill, West Indies cricketer Chadwick Walton, and Bruce James, co-founder and President of MVP Track and Field Club. Their experiences and insights gave attendees a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

   Ramharack summed up her enthusiasm for the event, expressing her eagerness for future summits: "The topics explored and the choice of panelists per segment were also very impressive. Looking forward to Part Two!"

   The success of this inaugural event not only provided valuable lessons for all involved but set the stage for further engagements aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s athletic community and inspiring future champions across sports.