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Junior Squash team depart today
Keisha Jeffrey
The National Junior team was expected to depart early this morning to participate in the Caribbean Area Squash Association Championships which is being held in Barbados, starting this weekend.
Both Head Coach Carl Ince and Fitness Trainer Robert Fernandes agreed that Guyana’s chances of doing well rest on the shoulders of the Girls, but did not rule out possibility of the Boys exceeding expectations.
Ince, who has been at the helm of nearly all national teams for a number of years, told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that, they are going to the tournament as the defending overall champions and even though the preparations were not as thorough as last year, he still expects them to feature among the top two teams.
“I would be very surprised if the Girls do not win titles because they’ve been looking very good during the training sessions and my expectations are high,” Ince said.
Regarding the Boys, Ince felt that in all fairness due to examinations, they did not have the opportunity to prepare as much so they would have to work much harder to retain the title.
The Coach revealed that players such as the Jeffrey twins (Keisha and Kayla), Ashley Khalil, Victoria Arjoon and Mary Fung-A-Fat, all who’ve been there before will still be very difficult to beat, while Akeila Wiltshire, daughter of former multiple Caribbean champion Garfield Wiltshire though a newcomer at this level could spring a surprise.
Ashley Khalil
Presently the local Under-13 champion Wiltshire has already begun to display her bloodline.
In a recent interview, Ince described her as a player who learns very, very fast, and explaining things to her are so simple because she grasps information with such ease.
Ashley Khalil, he said, is blessed with natural talent and someone who uses awesome power to subdue her opponents so much is expected of her.
Referring to Victoria Arjoon, Ince disclosed that she is playing as good as ever and even by her last year’s standards, she is still most likely to be the No.1 player in her category.
One of the players who the team will be banking on for inspiration is Keisha Jeffrey, the current U-17 defending champion and #1 ranked player in the division.
She has been in excellent form leading up to the event and should she continue along the same vein, it is hard to see any player impeding her progress towards retaining the title.
The Boys challenge will be led by the experienced Raphael deGroot and though his category is anticipated to be hotly contested, perhaps the mere thought of him playing in these championships for the last time could provide the stimulus he needs.
Other members of the Boys squad who could spring surprises are Alexander Arjoon, Deje Dias and Nyron Joseph, but according to Ince, they will have to work very hard to keep the crown.
Meanwhile, the respective teams are: (Boys) – Raphael deGroot, Alexander Arjoon, Deje Dias, Jason Ray Khalil, Steven Xavier, Ryan DaSilva and Nyron Joseph and (Girls) – Keisha and Kayla Jeffrey, Ashley Khalil, Victoria Arjoon, Mary Fung-A- Fat and Akeila Wiltshire.
Raphael deGroot
The players travelling to play in the individual competition are (Girls) – Gabrielle Fraser, Larissa Wiltshire, Taylor Fernandes, Ashley deGroot, Alysa Xavier and Daina King
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