The three badminton players who have travelled to Barranquilla, Colombia to participate in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games 2018 have had their fair share of mixed fortunes over the past three days.
The badminton team with GOA General Secretary Hector Edwards
Narayan Ramdhani, Jonathan Mangra and Priyanna Ramdhani have played several rounds of marvellous games, walking away with wins and a few shocking losses.
The badminton run opened with the men’s singles where Narayan was matched up with Jamaica’s number one player, Gareth Henry. Narayan played a commendable hand, but eventually lost 21-8, 22-20. In the other men’s singles, Mangra lost to Esteban Hurtado Rojas of Costa Rica in a three-setter: 21-12, 12-21, 25-23.
The women’s singles event proved to be more promising for 16-year-old Priyanna, who was required to match racquets with players who were at least four years her senior. Nevertheless, the teenager played her heart out to reach the quarter-final stage.
In the opening round, she gained a bye to move into the second round, where she defeated Nathalie Angelique Fedney Vidal of Panama 21-13, 21-11 to move into the quarters. Unfortunately, the Guyanese was overpowered by Mexico’s Sabrina Solis Martinez: 21-13, 21-8.
In the mixed doubles category, the Ramdhani siblings teamed up to take on their Caribbean and Central American counterparts. In the opening round, they defeated Damien Ricardo Howell and Tamisha Janelle Williams of Barbados in a thrilling three-setter. After losing the first game 20-22, the pair made an impressive comeback in the second game to win 21-17 and took the last game and match 21-19.
However, in round two, Narayan and Priyanna lost to the Dominican pair of William Cabrera Jose and B Polanco Munoz in another thrilling three-setter, with the Guyanese pair losing the first game 22-20, winning the second game 21-17 and losing the third and match 21-19.
The executive of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has expressed gratitude to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for the efforts it has made to ensure that badminton was represented at the CAC Games. The GBA has noted that participation in the Games was a great benefit to the athletes since it has pushed their standards to a higher level.
