Pan American Games 2019…
It was a bittersweet day for Guyana at the Pan American Games on Monday, as the Squash doubles team recorded their first win, while the 2- member Badminton contingent each suffered a loss in their opening encounter.
Coming off of several losses in the singles and doubles competitions, the Guyanese Women’s Squash team, comprising of Ashley Khalil, Mary Fung-A-Fat and Taylor Fernandes, held their composure to defeat the Peruvian team 3-0.
Fernandes won her encounter in three straight sets 11-6, 11-4, 11-6; and Ashley Khalil did the same 11-4, 11-7 11-4. Mary Fung-A-Fat was not to be left out of the victories, as she, too, won with a clean slate, after a close final game, 11-3 11-3 11-9.
This win represents the first victory for Guyana at the 2019 Pan-American Games after a dismal weekend of competition, especially on the rugby field, where Guyana finished last.
Over on the badminton courts, the Ramdhani siblings got their Pan-Am 2019 off to a disappointing start, as they each lost in the singles division. Pitted against Costa Rica’s Lauren Villalobos, Guyana’s Priyanna Ramdhani lost the encounter 2-0.
Her older brother, Narayan Ramdhani, lost by the same 2-0 margin to Jamaica’s Samuel Rickets. The siblings are expected to team up for the doubles competition.
Meanwhile, Guyana also did not have luck in the taekwondo arena. Guyana’s lone representative in this sporting discipline, Canada- based Justin Choy, went into his first engagement with confidence, but could not pull off a win. He was defeated 21-4 by Canadian Hervan Nkogho in the 68Kg category.