The Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry launched its 7th annual tennis tournament on Friday at the bank’s Recreational Centre, Bel-Air Park.
According to Assistant Coordinator, Daniel Lopes, 136 of the best tennis players in Guyana entered the tournament across the 11 categories. The categories listed included Boys Singles, Girls Singles, Mens Open Singles, Ladies Open Singles, Mens Oven 35 Singles,
Mens Over 45 Singles, Novice Medley Singles, Mens Open Doubles, Ladies Open Doubles, Mixed Open Doubles and Novice Medley
GBTI’s Marketing Manager Pamela Binda performing the ceremonial serve-off
Doubles.
Guyana Lawn Tennis Association Tournament Committee Chairman, Robert Bostwick provided the attendees with the recent history of the annual tournament where astounding consecutive wins have come from the five time defending Mens champion Anthony Downes and three time Ladies Champion Nicola Ramdyhan. The Chairman challenged the players to play with their heart and seek to earn the coveted titles.
While there were many exciting matches, the highpoint was the clash between local Khawn Rodney and Bobby Adelson of the United
L-R Bobby Adelson and Khawn Rodney
States. The flashy Adelson did not continue from where he lefty off in last year’s tournament as he was halted by Rodney in the first set which ended 4-6 in favour of the latter. The second set saw Rodney exemplifying class having the set 4-1 until Adelson switched up his game to level the game 7-5. However, in the third set, cramps in the wrist of Rodney saw him surrendering the set 6-1.
The full scoresheet read: Boys Open Singles Round of 32: Mark McDonald def Adesh Khayyam 6-0, 6-0, Joshua Kalekyezi def Vadeanand Resaul 6-0, 6-0, Keenan Persaud def Malik Williams w/o, Jeevan Dalip def Michaia Andrews w/o, Vijay Sharma def Ariel Khan 6-0, 6-0, Viraj Sharma def Shimron Lewis 6-1, 6-0
Girls Open Singles Qtrs: Shivani Persaud def Margaret Subryan 6-3, 6-2, Ciara Pooran def Alana Chung w/o, Sarah Klautky def Nathalie Ramdyhan 6-0, 6-1, Kalyca Fraser def Charlese Adam w/o
Mens Open Singles Round of 32: Bobby Adelson def Khawn Rodney 4-6,7-6(7/5),6-1, Stephen Bailey def Philbert Clarke 6-4,6-0, Mark McDonald def Bishan Dalip 6-4,3-6, 6-1, Nicholas Glasgow def Martin Campbell w/o, Daniel Lopes def Leroy Chapman 6-0, 6-0, Surendra Khayyam def Harrinand Persaud w/o, Andre Erskine def Akeem Bailey 6-1, 6-0, Heimraj Resaul def Rudy Grant 6-1, 6-1, Kester Abrams def Robert Bostwick 6-2, 6-4
Ladies Open Singles Round of 16: Aretta Dey def Patricia Hope 6-0, 6-0, Fiona Bushell def Alana Chung w/o
Novice Medley Singles Round of 16: Alvin Doris def Shaquille Bourne 7-6(8/6), Brian Primo def Akeem Bailey w/o. Qtrs: Devon Gonsalves def Martin Campbell 6-4, Asif Subhan def Amanda Roberts 6-4.
Present at the opening of the tournament was the bank’s Marketing Manager, Pamela Binda who expressed the bank’s commitment to the development of tennis in Guyana. Binda ceremoniously served the first ball to declare the tournament open. The tournament runs until June 19 at the Bel-Air Park court from 17:00 Hrs on week days and from 09:00 Hrs on weekends.
