Solange Guzman remained a cut above the rest as she smashed her way to three titles at the National Senior Badminton Championships which concluded Friday at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas. Guzman captured the women's singles and the mixed and women's doubles titles. Playing her first national championship since migrating to T&T over two years ago, not only did the racket mastermind win all her sets, but she also conceded less than six points from all her opponents throughout the singles games. The Cuban made it to the women's singles quarterfinals on a bye where she trounced FMT club member, Arielle Gomez, 21-5 in two sets. In the semifinal, Shuttle Forces's, Leanna Castanada, was no match for Guzman who triumphed 21-3 in two sets.
In the final, Jade Joseph's hopes of avenging clubmate Gomez's loss were dealt a crushing 21-2, 21-5 whipping from the Cuban. Guzman's crowning as singles champ halted the four-year consecutive reign of Nekeisha Blake, who was unable to defend her title due to back injury. With the help of Finns club-mate, Virginia Balwant, Guzman made it to the semifinals of the doubles after discarding Crysan Augustus and Akeila Pascall 21-6, 21-3. Also making their way into the final were Kamasha Robertson (Shuttle Force) and Avril Plaza (Finns), who got the better of Joseph and Gomez 27-25, 21-17. In the final, the Finns duo walked away as the clear-cut winners with a 21-8, 21-4 win over their opponents. Plaza then clashed with Guzman again, this time in the mixed doubles final. Together with Roger Moore (Cristars), Guzman continued her usual winning ways with a 21-8, 21-9 cruise over Robertson and Navin Gayapersad (Finns) in their semifinal. Meanwhile Plaza and Kerwyn Pantin (FMT) booked their final spot by defeating Candice Lee Kim and Justin Siu 21-16, 21-18, in the other semi. But Plaza tasted defeat in a final once again with Pantin, who conceded a 21-14, 21-10 beating.
The men's singles saw an exciting battle between defending champ Rampersad and Allistair Espinoza. In the semifinals, Rampersad brushed past Keston Friday (21-14, 21-18) while Espinoza came from behind to triumph over Siu (18-21, 21-18, 21-12). In the final, Rampersad took the first set 21-18, only to have Espinoza bounce back 21-16. With the scores locked 1-1, Rampersad retained the title with a 21-14 victory. Rampersad then made a bid for a second title in the men's doubles with Siu. In the semifinal Rampersad and Siu smashed Sonics Players duo Keelon Mitchell and Joel Cambridge, 21-7 in two sets, while Friday and Pantin made their way past Declan Monderoy and Jason Ramjass 21-10, 21-13. In the final, Friday and Pantin got the upper hand, winning 21-12, 15-21, 21-11. The men's 40-plus doubles title was won by the Finns duo of Andre Lewis and Shaffie Nabbie, who won all five of their round robin matches. Arnand Maharaj and Tony Grice made it a one-two finish for Finns as they ended on four points.
