Guyanese racquet athletes suffer early exits at South American Youth Games

Guyana’s badminton and tennis players endured a difficult start to their campaigns on Monday at the South American Youth Games in Panama, suffering a series of early defeats on the opening day of racquet sports competition.
In badminton, Guyana’s Christopher Jordan was eliminated in the men’s singles second round after going down 2-0 to Paraguay’s Marcos Rotela. Rotela secured the win comfortably with set scores of 21-13 and 21-7, ending Jordan’s run in the event.
Jordan’s teammate, Mishka Beharry, also exited the competition after losing her women’s singles encounter in straight sets. She was defeated by Colombia’s Juliana Castano, who claimed a 21-5, 21-9 victory.

The pair later combined in the mixed doubles category, but were unable to advance. They lost 0-2 to Venezuela’s Fabricio Rodriguez and Barbara Lamas, with the Venezuelan duo recording a 21-4, 21-9 win in the first round.
In tennis, Guyana’s Paula Kalekyezi suffered a first-round loss in the women’s singles, going down 1-6, 0-6 to Panama’s Isabella Leurck. Similarly, Nathan DeNobrega was beaten in his men’s singles opening match, losing 0-6, 0-6 to Peru’s Alessandro Rubini.
Despite the setbacks, Kalekyezi and DeNobrega are scheduled to return to action in the mixed doubles, where they will face Panama’s Gabriella Leurck and Juan Fondevila in their first-round match today.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s athletics contingent has arrived in Panama and has begun acclimatising ahead of their competition, which is set to commence on Wednesday. The track and field athletes are expected to begin their campaign as Guyana look to improve their overall showing at the Games.
Additionally, Guyana’s chess players and 3×3 basketballers are all set to head into action as the Games move closer to their conclusion.
Guyana’s track and field athletes: Ezekiel Millington, Dequan Farrell, Gordon Thompson, David Williams, Ade Sealy, Ebo McNeil, Angel Jeffrey, Adanya Glen, Joanna Anthon, Akeela Dover, Jaral Campbell, Keimal Gishard, Nathaniel Samaroo, and Courtney Haynes.
Coaches: Glenton Pantlitz, Johny Gravesande, and Dillian Leitch-Crandon.