Guyana’s squash sensation, Ashley Khalil, is celebrating an extraordinary achievement after winning three gold medals at the 2024 ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championships, held in her home country from August 18-24. Khalil’s remarkable performance highlighted her dominance in the sport as she claimed top honors in the Women’s Doubles, Women’s Team, and Overall Team events.

Expressing her joy and gratitude on social media, Khalil shared her excitement about the triple success. “I’m thrilled to share that the 2024 ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championships have concluded, and I’m honoured to have won three Gold Medals!” she wrote, celebrating her victories in front of her home crowd.

Khalil, who has become a household name in Caribbean squash, gave special thanks to her doubles partner and sister, Ashley deGroot-Khalil, with whom she secured a third consecutive gold in the Women’s Doubles event. The duo's synergy on the court has made them a formidable team, and their latest triumph solidified their status as the best in the region.

“I’m also grateful to my amazing teammates—Mary Fung-a-Fat, Larissa Wiltshire, Akeila Wiltshire, and Kirsten Gomes—and the entire Guyana contingent,” Khalil continued. Their collective efforts ensured that Guyana stood out as the top team in the tournament, bringing home the Overall Team gold as well.

The championships were not just a personal triumph for Khalil but also a proud moment for Guyana. She took the opportunity to acknowledge the support that made it all possible, giving a “huge shoutout” to the event’s sponsors—ENet, Discover Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana, KFC Guyana, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport—as well as the dedicated physiotherapists and fans who cheered them on.

Beyond the medals, Khalil emphasized the importance of the relationships she has built through the sport, particularly with her fellow competitors. “It’s always a joy to reconnect with my CASA friends, who have truly become like family over the years. The camaraderie and support within our community make this tournament even more special,” she said, highlighting the unique bond shared among athletes in the Caribbean Squash Association.

As Ashley Khalil basks in the glory of her latest achievements, she looks ahead to even more victories on the horizon, with her eyes set on further cementing her legacy in Caribbean squash.

“Here’s to celebrating this achievement and looking forward to even more victories ahead,” she concluded, with love and pride for her country, Guyana.

The unwavering commitment to task, team spirit and the desire to stand out, were the unifying threads linking Guyana's tale of overachievement at the just-concluded Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Championship at the North Sound Courts in the Cayman Islands.

Simply put, the Guyanese left nothing to chance and now they are reveling in the fact that they not only retained the overall championship but had a host of other accolades that sweetened the deal in what was a clear demonstration of the gulf in class –certainly on this occasion –between them and their regional counterparts. 

Along with the overall title, Guyana also clinched the men’s and women’s team events, as well as the men’s and women’s vets’ titles. They also finished tops in the women’s doubles thanks to Ashely Khalil and Ashley de Groot, and in the men’s and women’s over 40 contest courtesy of Jeranzo Bell and Nicolette Fernandes respectively. 

"After a week of intense competition, we are incredibly proud that the blood, sweat and tears that went into putting Guyana back on that top podium once more, proved worthwhile," Guyana squash said in a social media post.

"Our successes become more meaningful when we have a massive community backing us every step of the way. Thanks to our coach Ramon [Chan-A-Sue] and the family and friends of Guyana squash for your endless support. Also, our sponsors without whom, none of this would be possible. Your contributions towards our team success would never go unrecognized," the post added.

In key team final matches, Guyana defeated hosts Cayman Islands 3-2 on their way to the men’s title, while their female counterparts, had a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Barbados for the women’s honours.

The Guyanese had earlier captured the women’s doubles gold through Khalil and de Groot, who bettered the host pair of Jade Pitcarin and Marlene West, but Fernandes and Khalil had to settle for silver and bronze in the women’s singles behind Barbadian Margot Prow.

Another Barbadian Khamal Cumberbatch topped the men's singles event, ahead of homeboy Cameron Stafford with another home player Julian Jervis, edging Guyana's Alex Arjoon for bronze.

Stafford and Jervis later teamed up to stop Cumberbatch and Shaw Simpson, in the men’s doubles final. Jamaica's Bruce Burrowes and Julian Morris took bronze.

Jamaica's duo of Tahjia Lumley and Jessica Davies, topped the mixed doubles contest, leaving Guyana's Jason-Ray Khalil and Fernandes to settle for silver. The Bajan pair of Darien Benn and Jada Smith-Padmore claimed bronze.