Guyana Badminton Association had a successful year home and away

President of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) is pleased to report that 2016 was very busy year blessed with lots of success and achievements both on the local scene and at the International level.

 In just this one year alone Guyana’s top Player Narayan Ramdhani achieved a World Ranking of 53 and also won the NSC Junior Sportsman Award of the year 2015. Ramdhani also won bronze at the Peru Junior International, was a triple champion (3-Golds) at the Suriname Under-19 Junior International, won two silver medals and one bronze at the Caribbean Under-19 International Championships, bronze medal at the Caribbean Regional Junior Championships and silver at the Under-19 Team Championships.

He also made it to the quarter-finals at the Pan American Junior Championships, placed fifth at the Vancouver Island Under-23 University Circuit Tournament and received a 5-year Scholarship to attend College/University and train in Badminton at the Shuttlesport Badminton Academy in Vancouver BC Canada.

 Top Junior Players like Jonathan Mangra, Priyanna Ramdhani, Ambika Ramraj & Tyreese Richards who also did well in 2016 at the international Level.

 Jonathan Mangra captured gold at the Suriname Under-19 Junior International, bronze at the Peru Junior International, silver at the Caribbean Under-19 International Championships and silver at the Caribbean Under-19 Team Championships. Tyreese Richards-Bronze at the Suriname Under-15 Junior International.

 Ambika Ramraj won silver at the Caribbean Under-19 Team Championships. Priyanna Ramdhani had two gold medals and a bronze in Suriname at the Under-15 & 19 Junior International, a silver and a bronze at the Caribbean Under-19 International Championships, silver at the Caribbean Under-19 Team Championships and two golds and one silver at the Caribbean Regional Under-15 & 19 Championships.

 The international success could not have been possible had it not been for the local tournaments.

The year began with the GUMDAC Open Tournament followed by the Trophy Stall Age Group Tournament, Guyana Olympic Association Olympic Day Open Tournament, Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) and the Woodpecker Products Age Group Christmas Tournament.

 Among the other accomplishments for 2016, the GBA President is reporting that the National Teams attended the Peru Junior Under-19 International in Peru and brought back 2 medals (2-Bronze). Additionally, they were in the Suriname Junior Under-15 and 19 International tournament and copped eight medals (6 Gold and 2 Bronze). In the Pan American Junior Championships in Peru the locals were knocked out at the quarter-finals while in the Caribbean Championships in Aruba the Guyanese had their best outing bringing back winning 14 medals (2-Golds/9-Silvers/3-Bronze).

In October, Guyana placed second to Suriname in the Inter-Guiana Games that were played in Georgetown.

Additionally, the GBA attended the Pan American Junior Badminton Academy in Peru.

 The experienced gained by the players during the year saw much improvement in their game and upward direction in development. The top players continue to show their talent as they performed well in the international circuit standing up to the world ranked players.

 Off the court, President Ramdhani continue to serve as General Secretary of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation and General Secretary for the Central American & Caribbean Countries Badminton Confederation.

However, the association had some setbacks as was expected. They still face a lot of difficulties in getting a steady supply of feather shuttlecock which have to be used to train the players for international tournaments. These shuttlecocks are very costly as up to ten or more can be used in Matches. The GBA is working towards getting a supplier but any help that can be given will be warmly accepted.

 The development programmed for the Junior Players is also affected by after school lessons and this continues to be an ongoing problem which the association will have cope with. With this pressure they are still balancing training and academics.

 The GBA would like to thank the National Sports Commission for allowing them to play at the National Gymnasium and the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. It is the hope of the association that the taped floor markings can be more permanent as they are faced with the difficulties of replacing the tapes after every event that’s being held.

The Guyana team at this year’s Inter-Guiana Games with their silver medals at the National Gymnasium
The Guyana team at this year’s Inter-Guiana Games with their silver medals at the National Gymnasium

The senior Ramdhani wishes to thank the Guyana Olympic Association for their continuous support to Badminton and sports in general. They have made it possible for our players to attend tournaments which gave our players lots of exposure and experienced and gained higher world ranking points.

 We will continue to have Badminton at the highest level and thanks goes out to the Media, Sponsors, and all who supported us during the year 2016 and look forward to your continuous support in 2017 which promises to be another action packed 12 months beginning as early as January.