Cezair shatters national record at Archery Championships

T&T’s Neela Cezair shattered the women’s compound bow national record and claimed gold at the Southern Caribbean Archery Championships held from July 27-29 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The championships saw 33 archers from Barbados, T&T, Martinique and Guadeloupe converge in the country’s capital to compete for regional honours. The local team reigned supreme at the championships, bagging a total of eight medals (five gold, four silver, two bronze.) Cezair erased the previous record of 312 points, set by Suzette Ng-a-Fook in 2002, with a score of 322 points in her first preliminary round. Cezair followed up with a score of 301 points to lead the preliminary rounds with a total of 623 points ahead of compatriot Sarah Jagesar, and Martinique’s Rosy Sooprayen. In the final rounds, Cezair sealed her gold medal finish with a 119-80 whipping over Jagesar in their head-to-head battle. Jagesar made it a one-three finish for T&T.

 

 

Defending champion, Nikhil Kanhai, continued T&T’s winning ways as he emerged the top archer in the boys’ junior recurve bow final. At the end of the preliminary rounds, Kanhai was way ahead of his competitors with a total of 543 points. Trailing by 88 points was “home boy” Dillon Rice (455) followed by Martinique’s Cyril Rosine (439). In the final the top three order remained the same with Kanhai clinching a 6-4 win over Rice to retain his title. In the men’s recurve, T&T was able to secure second place from Sanjeev Harrinarine. In the prelims Harrinarine was second on 534 points behind Bajan Dwight Hagley. Unfortunately Harrinarine was unable to improve his silver position as he conceded a 6-0 beating from Hagley in the head-to-head final. Another Bajan, Pedro Thomas, placed third. T&T would later claim a one-three finish again, this time in the mixed compound event. Bringing home the gold medal in this event were Jagesar and Anil Mahabir, who got the better of the Martinique duo of Rosy Sooprayen and Fabien Clombe. Lisa Coltest and Shaffick Mohammed brought home the bronze. The local archers then made a bid to grab the most coveted prize of the event-the Caribbean Cup. But in the end it was the host nation that would take the Cup, ending with a total of 186 points and 18 medals (six of each colour). T&T trailed behind with 174 points followed by team Martinique which amassed 161 points and gained three golds, a silver and four bronze medals. 

 

 

RESULTS

Preliminary rounds

Men’s Recurve

Gold- Dwight Hagley (BAR), 580

Silver- Sanjeev Harrinarine (T&T), 534

Bronze Pedro Thomas (BAR), 455

 

Boys’ Junior Recurve

Gold- Nikhil Kanhai (T&T), 543

Silver- Dillon Rice (BAR), 455

Bronze- Cyril Rosine (MAR), 439

 

Women’s Compound Bow  

Gold- Neela Cezair (T&T), 623 (NR)

Silver- Sarah Jagesar (T&T), 578

Bronze- Rosy Sooprayen (MAR), 479

 

 

Finals

Men’s Recurve 

Gold- Dwight Hagley (BAR), 6-0

Silver- Sanjeev Harrinarine (T&T), 0-6

Bronze- Pedro Thomas (BAR), 6-2

 

Boys’ Junior Recurve

Gold- Nikhil Kanhai (T&T), 6-4

Silver- Dillon Rice (BAR), 4-6

Bronze- Cyril Rosine (MAR), 2-6

 

Women’s Compound Bow

1st- Neela Cezair (T&T), 119-80

2nd- Rosy Sooprayen (MAR), 80-119

3rd- Sarah Jagesar (T&T), 106-92

 

Compound (Mixed Team)

Gold- Sarah Jagesar & Anil Mahabir (T&T), 110-104

Silver- Rosy Sooprayen & Fabien Clombe (MAR), 104-110

Bronze- Lisa Coltest & Shaffick Mohammed (T&T), 93-113

 

Caribbean Cup

1st Barbados- 186

2nd Trinidad- 174

3rd Martinique- 161