The Jamaica Squash Association (JSA) is set to host the inaugural Jamaica Invitational from November 27-30, 2024, at the Liguanea Club in Kingston. This highly anticipated event will showcase top squash talent from Jamaica and the Caribbean, with men and women competing for the prestigious title of Jamaica Invitational Champion.

The invitational will feature Jamaica’s best, led by Ashante Smith, the top seed and last year’s All-Jamaica Championship runner-up. Smith will be challenged by Bruce Burrowes, the second seed, who has been a consistent finalist in national and regional tournaments. The third seed, Jerazeno Bell, hails from Guyana and has impressed with his competitive performances while playing in Jamaica. Rounding out the top five are Stephan Morrison, a seasoned national representative seeded fourth, and Jonathan Hope, the fifth seed and the highest-ranked visiting player from The Bahamas.

On the women’s side, the six-player round-robin format highlights emerging and established talent. Mehar Trehan, the U17 Caribbean Champion and reigning local champion, takes the top seed, while Sanjana Nallapati, the third-ranked U19 player in the Caribbean and a Caribbean Girls Doubles Champion, is seeded second. Tracy Binnie, a consistent performer on the local circuit, is the third seed, followed by Elle Wilson, who rounds out the top four.

Mehar Trehan

JSA President Karen Anderson emphasized the tournament’s significance as a platform for player development and future opportunities.

“The inaugural Jamaica Invitational is an opportunity for our players to showcase their hard work and be considered for national representation. The plan is to grow the event to include prize money and invite more Caribbean players to compete,” Anderson said.

She also noted the event’s role in shaping the future of Jamaica’s national teams.

“It’s a 16-person draw. It is being used as a selection event, so players who participate, the top four, can be considered for future national representation at events we may be travelling to. All-Jamaica will be the priority in March (2025), but this will also be one of the events that we will look at and put in the pot for consideration.”

Anderson expressed excitement about the calibre of players in both the men’s and women’s draws, highlighting the depth of talent on display.

This inaugural tournament aims to set a high standard for squash in Jamaica, providing opportunities for local and regional players to excel while contributing to the development of the sport across the Caribbean.