High expectations as CAREBACO tournament serves off today

A 20-member Guyanese Badminton team will tomorrow begin their campaign in the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Junior competition, being held in Aruba.
The Guyanese team will compete across Boys’ and Girls’ singles, doubles and mixed doubles from under-11 to under-19 categories.
On eve of commencement of the competition on Wednesday, Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) President Emilia Ramdhani spoke about the team’s preparation and her expectations of what is the largest team Guyana has taken to the CAREBACO tournament in quite some time.
“There’s some bit of anticipation, anxious, happy,” The GBA President said about her emotions on the eve of the tournament. “It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve been able to take 20 persons to CAREBACO. Usually it’s a smaller team, but with the assistance of the parents, friends, a couple of sponsors and the National Sports Commission, we’re able to make this happen, and we’re looking forward to the tournament tomorrow [today].”

Quizzed about the team’s preparation, Ramdhani admitted that it was not ideal, but said adjustments were made to get the team in shape. She related, “We were unable to practice for some (time), because of the one facility being the Gymnasium and there were, you know, other tournaments that had to happen. And then our programme was pushed back, but it was facilitated somewhat, but it could’ve been a little bit more.
“But I’m happy that the team did what they could. In addition to court training, we had a bit of training in the park, where they did a little agility and stuff like that. So, we’re hoping (that) with what they did, they will push through and we could get some medals,” she disclosed.
In the meantime, the coaching component of the Guyanese team has been getting the young players podium-ready. Ramdhani explained, “The coaches have been national players Priyanna Ramdhani and Akili Haynes. They’ve been helping me with the Badminton Academy which was started two years ago at Queen’s College, and we’ve evolved. So, they’re here working with the kids.”
Guyana’s CAREBACO team consists:

Under-11
Joel Rambiriche – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Liam Brummell – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Anjaneysa Godette – Girls Singles, Girls Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Riyo Alexander – Girl Singles, Girls Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Under-13
Ethan Bulkan – Boys Singles, Under-15 Boys Doubles

Under-15
Ruel Rambiriche – Boys Singles, Mixed Doubles
Egan Bulkan – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles
Sergio Alexander – Boys Singles
Gabrielle Felix – Girls Singles, Mixed Doubles

Under-17
Xavio Alexander – Boys Singles, Under 19 Boys Doubles
Gabriel Felix – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Nikolas Pollard – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles
Mishka Beharry – Girls Singles, Girls Doubles, Under 19 Mixed Doubles
Malia Haley – Girls Singles, Girls Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Under-19
Frank Waddell – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Jonathan Debidin – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Jonathan Robinson – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles
Vishal Gopaul – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles
Yonneil Benjamin – Boys Singles, Boys Doubles
Leshaunte Berkley – Girls Singles, Mixed Doubles (G6)