It was a learning experience for the national badminton team at the Pan American Sports Festival in Queretaro, Mexico, which took place from Saturday until yesterday.
Four players represented T&T at the festival including senior players Keston Friday and Nekeisha Blake and junior players Will Lee and Jada Renales.
T&T did not make it past the first round in any of the categories, but Lee and Renales would have learnt a lot playing at the festival. Lee and Renales fought hard against Haward Chalen and Maria Zambrano of Ecuador in round one of the mixed doubles. The T&T pair won the opening set 22-20, but faded and lost the next two sets 21-19, 21-18.
Lee and Renales also participated in the singles category, but lost in straight sets. Lee went down to Ernesto Milian of Cuba 21-11, 21-7, while Renales lost to Florencia Bernatere 21-10, 21-10. Friday competed in the mixed doubles, men's singles and men's doubles, while Blake participated in the mixed doubles, women's singles and women's doubles.