National coach Ryan Jaggessar is confident of more than one title when his troops begin their quest in the Caribbean Junior Area Squash Championship at the Queen’s Park Oval’s Squash Centre today.
Jagessar, whom yesterday admitted his team has been hard at training for some time now, identified four junior players who are among the top four in their respective categories as having the chance to be among the medallists at the tournament, which runs from July 14-19.
Among them are Seigonie Williams, the runner-up in the Girls’ Under-13 Division last year and now in the U-15 category, Seth Thong in the Boys’ Under-13, Chloe Walcott in the Girls’ Under-17s and captain Joshua Poon, who enjoyed a standout tournament at the 2019 Sunshine Snacks Junior National Squash tournament in May.
Jagessar admitted though that it will be a difficult tournament for his team generally and an improvement in their third-place finish at the tournament last year will also be equally challenging.
The tournament is shaping up to be the biggest ever in its history, with the largest contingent numbering over 200 athletes now in T&T since Friday last for the event.
Players from Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Guyana and St Vincent and the Grenadines are now here to do battle against the host nation.
Poon will have his hands full in charge of the boys’ team, while the improving Amy De Verteuil will lead the budding girl starlets of T&T.
Competition begins with the individual play-offs from 9 am this morning, where Barbados’ Megan Best and Khamal Cumberbatch will attempt to successfully defend their regional titles, both starting as favourites.
Team T&T: Josie Thong, Myra Thong (Girls’ U-13), Sigourney Williams, Scott Shaw (U-15), Nicola De Verteuil (U-15 Reserve), Nicholas Lequay (Reserve Boys’ U13/U15), Chloe Walcott (U-17), Joshua Poon (U-17), Amiee De Verteuil (U-19), Jinan Al-Rawi (U-19), Kobie Khan (U-17), Michael Chin Lee (U-19), Alejandro John (U-19 Reserve)