Silvers for Guyanese team at Trinidad International Series
The duo of Priyanna Ramdhani and Akili Haynes has roped in two silver-medal performances at the just-concluded Trinidad International Series 2023 Badminton tournament.
The Guyanese duo teamed up for the mixed doubles division, where they defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Vishal Ramsubhag and Danyelle Barnes 21-18, 21-7 in the second round of the competition, after gaining a bye in the first round. In the quarter-finals, Barbados’s Kenni King and Shari Hope fell prey to the Guyanese duo in a three-setter, 21-13, 12-21, 21-16. In the semi-finals, they defeated Trinidad’s Sameer Ali and Janiah Boodoosingh 21-7, 21-13, to clinch their spot in the championship game against Samuel Ricketts and Tahlia Richardson of Jamaica.
A look at Akili Haynes and Priyanna Ramdhani in action
Meanwhile, Ramdhani later teamed up with Barbados’s Monyata Riviera for the women’s doubles category. The Guyanese-Bajan duo eased into the quarter-finals, after defeating the Trinidadian pair of Nekeisha Blake and Janiah Boodoosingh 21-12, 21-4 in round one. There, T’Shelle Barnes and Amara Urquhart, also of Trinidad, were no match for the Guyanese- Barbadian team, losing 21-8, 21-8.
On to the semi-finals, Ramdhani and Riviera overcame Barbados’s Kenni King and Shari Hope 21-13, 12-21, 21-16, for a shot at the gold medal. They were intended to take on Canadian duo Jeslyn Chow and Eliana Zhang in the final.
Priyanna Ramdhani and her women’s doubles partner Monyata Riviera sport their medals
However, Ramdhani sustained an unfortunate knee injury and was unable to play in either final.
“Two days ago, I injured my knee, but I tried my best to continue playing for my teammates. I pushed through my matches and made it to finals; however, I was not able to walk/run on the day of the finals. Sorry to disappoint, but I tried my best,” Ramdhani shared via a social media post following the competition.
Though their opponents gained walkovers in the finals, the Guyanese players had already secured their silver medals by virtue of making it to the finals.
