The Guyanese Badminton team has so far had mixed fortunes since the beginning of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Open International tournament. Following their successful stint at the Junior competition, Priyanna Ramdhani, Akili Haynes, Tyrese Jeffrey, Jonathan Mangra and Narayan Ramdhani suited up for the more competitive Open International tournament, which began on Tuesday, August 20.
A glimpse of the mixed doubles action featuring the Ramdhani siblings
Hosted at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in St. Michael Barbados, badminton players from 23 countries, namely Czech Republic, Germany, Panama, USA, Canada, Italy, Luxembourg, Wales, Poland, Finland, Iceland, Slovakia, Suriname, Haiti, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Jamaica, England, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Mongolia, are not only competing for gold medals but also Olympic qualifying points.
While all the male players had wins in the preliminary round of the men’s singles, they were not as fortunate when the competition got more intense.
Akili Haynes lost to Vinson Chiu of USA 21-8, 21-8, Tyrese Jeffrey was defeated by Samuel O’Brian Ricketts of Jamaica 21-4, 21-6, and Jonathan Mangra was dispatched by Sam Parsons of England 21-5, 21-12.
Being the only Guyanese male player to compete in round 2, Narayan Ramdhani registered a loss to Slovakia’s Milan Dratva 21-12, 21-6.
Priyanna Ramdhani also bowed out of the singles competition in the second round, after she was defeated by Mexico’s Haramara Gaitan 21-15, 21-13.
On the other hand, Guyana was dominant in the doubles’ divisions, having advanced to the quarterfinals in the mixed doubles, men’s doubles and ladies’ doubles categories.
Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra defeated Shae Michael Martin & Gavin Robinson of Barbados 21-12, 21-10 in the men’s doubles to advance.
Meanwhile, the Ramdhani siblings made light work of the Barbados duo of Cory Fanus & Monyata Riviera 21-12, 18-21, 21-14.
The quarterfinal was contested on Thursday evening, but up to this publication’s press time, there were no results available.
