Local Charlotte Knaggs claimed the Girls Under 19 crown in the Caribbean Squash Championships when she crushed Guyanese Victoria Arjoon in straight sets (13-11, 11-6, 11-2) at Cascadia Hotel in St Ann's on Thursday night. Playing in front of a packed house, Knaggs rallied back from being 8-10 down in the first set to secure T&T's only title of the tournament.
"A lot of hard work went into this," she said afterwards. "I've been working a lot on my fitness and that helped me to keep on going when I was down in the first set."
Meanwhile in the Boys Under 19 final, Jamaican Ashante Smith fought back from a two-set deficit to edge local Mandela Patrick 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-4.
"It's the first time I've won a championship abroad so this is a great feeling," he said. "I like to play at a higher intensity than Mandela and I tried to use that against him."
Patrick's brother Nku also had to settle for a runner-up spot, losing to Guyana's Nyron Joseph 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 in the Boys Under 17 final. The championships continued yesterday with the team tournament.
?Results
Boys Under 19 Final
Ashante Smith (Jam) bt Mandela Patrick (T&T) 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-4
Girls Under 19 Final
Charlotte Knaggs (T&T) bt Victoria Arjoon (Guy) 13-11, 11-6, 11-2
Boys Under 17 Final
Nyron Joseph (Guy) bt Nku Patrick (T&T) 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8
Girls Under 17 Final
Gylla Mackenzie bt Akiela Wiltshire (Guy) 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8
Boys Under 15 Final
Benjamin Mekdeci (Guy) bt Jonathan Walker (Jam) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7
Girls Under 15 Final
Alyssa Mullings (Jam) bt Amanda Haywood (Bar) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
Boys Under 13 Final
Khamal Cumberbatch (Bar) bt Kai Bentick (OECS) 11-6, 13-11, 11-6
Girls Under 13 Final
Megan Best (Bar) bt Mia Mahfood 11-0, 11-7, 11-6