6th annual Bakewell competition gets underway

Bakery giants Bakewell have stayed true to their commitment of fittingly memorialising their founder Naeem Nasir by reinstalling a tournament in one of his favourite sport disciplines, lawn tennis.
The annual Bakewell Junior Lawn Tennis tournament affords exposure opportunity to players under the age of eighteen. This year’s competition has three categories: Under 12, Under 14 and Under 18.
The gathering at the simple opening ceremony, which was held at the National Racquet Center in Georgetown, heard from veteran player and Coach Shelly Daly Ramdyhan that the late Nasir was very fond of the sport and had gone above and beyond to ensure that players were given equal opportunity at competing or training overseas.
“In memory of him, we would have this tournament,” Daly Ramdyhan stated in her heartfelt reflection on Nasir.
Also speaking at the opening was Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) representative Dylan Fraser, who took the time to praise Bakewell for continuing to honour its founder’s memory and his commitment to the sport.
“GLTA believes that it is important to maintain this type of partnership and sponsorship coming from our private partners, and it only shows how committed they are to making sure that this sport maintains its reputation and will always have that presence here in Guyana,” Fraser stated.
As such, he noted that the competition is set at a critical age group for development, stating, “And there’s no better way than to start it from the grassroots.”
The matches are expected to be hosted at the Racquet Center in Georgetown, at Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast and at the GBTI Court at Diamond, East Bank.
In the first weekend’s action, the Under 18 Boys’ category saw Kareem Bunbury recording a win against Joshua Kalekyezi. For the girls, Kalyca Fraser defeated Alana Chung 6-2, 6-1.
Under-14 action involved Saskia Persaud overcoming Reshida Hardy in a 5-3 4-0 result. For the Under-14 boys, Jeremiah Siland registered a win against Gerald Scotland 4-2, 3-5, (10/5).
Vadeanand Resauk overpowered his opponent Nigel Lowe 5-3, 4-1, and Wayne Baker made light work of Adesh Khayyam 5-3, 4-1.
Under 12 boys featured Hayden Mentore winning a 4-2, 4-0 match against Denzil Luther; Jaideon Viera overcoming Nathan De Nobrega 4-1, 4-0; Gerald Scotland defeating Nathan De Nobrega 4-2, 4-0, and Ricky Romanscindo overpowering Elwyn Levius 4-1, 4-2.
Additionally, Hayden Mentore also registered a win against Elwyn Levius 4-0, 5-3.
On the female side, Saskia Fraser made light work of Malia Maikoo 4-0, 4-0; Reshida Hardy dusted Norella Jordan 4-0, 4-0; Paula Kalekyezi powered her way to a 4-0,4-0 win against Renola Jordan, and Menishki Jaikisson also won against Renola Jordan 4-2, 4-1.
Other matches saw Heimraj Resaul defeating Khalid Gobin 6-2, 6-4; Viraj Sharma defeating Devine Kalekyezi 6-1, 6-1; Donnie Anderson defeating Toshan Jumana, while Ronaldo Alexander received a ‘walk over’ in his scheduled match against Jordan Beaton.