Arjoon faces Downes in Open final

Feb 07, 2010 Sports

The Bounty Farm handicap tournament continued on Friday night and Saturday morning with some of the heavily handicapped players going down.
On Friday night, the biggest match up was between national junior team-mates, Alexander Arjoon (-25) v Ashley Khalil (+4) in the Open category plate 2nd round match-up where the fans were treated to some gruelling rallies and brilliant shot making.
It was Arjoon’s skill exercised with caution against Khalil’s retrieving and brilliant front court game. Arjoon was gracious in defeat after losing 5-15, 15-10, 0-15.
In an invited comment he was full of praise for the Guyana and Caribbean champion, Khalil, who was also Guyana’s 2007 Junior Sports Woman of the Year.
“It was the best squash I’ve ever seen her play” Arjoon declared, high praise indeed for his team-mate.
In another important match in the Open Category semi-finals, Andrew Arjoon (+10) defeated Michael Atherley (+10).
It was a short punchy game between two hard hitting veterans.
The retired Army Major-General did well to hold his own against the tournament’s giant killing Arjoon.
The younger player never let Atherley into the match closing it out with powerful low drives 15-12, 14-17,15-12.
The other Open Category semi-final saw Joven Benn (+10) taking on Alan Downes (+6).
It was a good match as Benn, an exciting young player showed off his fitness with an excellent retrieving game in the early going.
Downes used his experience to trap Benn scampering out of his way late to win a few strokes.
Ironically a misplaced drive of his own down the centre court and back to himself allowed Benn an easy stroke to close out the first game. He recovered well as Benn’s retrieving ability faded and closed it out 16-17, 15-12, 15-11.
On Saturday morning Joseph Mekdeci (+6) took on Regan Pollard (-25). Pollard was forced to work extraordinarily hard against the crafty Mekdeci.
His own extensive experience and relatively superior fitness helped him to make up the handicap and prevail in the first game.
In the second, the burden began to take its toll on Pollard and Mekdeci overcame him to set up a third game. By this time, Mekdeci appeared to be exhausted, attempting winners and trying to keep the rallies short. Pollard the former Junior and Senior Guyana and Caribbean Champion, employed a good front court game of his own to exploit his opponent’s fatigue.
It appeared to pay off and he made up the handicap to reach match point at 14-13.
Mekdeci won that point and Pollard then called set 1 much to the great surprise of the crowd.
It was a gamble that didn’t pay off as his older opponent managed to keep him off balance with a tight serve and close drives and closed out the game and the match with a superb cross court drive, 12-15, 15-11, 15-14.
Complete scores.
Friday night
Open Category Plate – 2nd Round
Brian Yong (+10) v Joshua Abdool (+8) 15-11, 15-12
Lee Fung-a-fat (+10) v Deje Dias (-15) 15-10, 15-12
Alexander Arjoon (-25) v Ashley Khalil (+4) 15-5, 10-15, 15-0
Regan Pollard (-25) v Nyron Joseph (+8) 15-11, 13-15, 25-12
Open Category Plate Quarter-finals
Brian Yong (+10) def. Victoria Arjoon (+10) 15-13, 17-15
Deje Dias (-15) def. Jason-Ray Khalil (-15) 14-17, 15-8, 15-8
Ashley Khalil (+4) def. Joseph Mekdeci (+6) 15-9, 15-8
Regan Pollard (-25) def. David Fernandes Walk over
A Category Semi Finals
Julio Van Lange (+8) def. Jonathan Antczak (-8) 15-2, 15-10
Jamal Douglas (-15) lost to Jason Van Dyk (+10) 15-8, 12-15, 11-15
Open Category Semi-Finals
Andrew Arjoon (+10) def. M. Atherley (+10) 15-12, 14-17, 15-12
Joven Benn (+10) lost to Alan Downes (+6) 17-16, 12-15, 11-15
Saturday AM
A Category plate Semi finals
Patrick Fraser (0) def. Benjamin Mekdeci (-4) 17-15, 7-15, 17-16
Dominic Noel (+8) lost to Stephan John (+8) 13-15, 17-14, 10-15
Open Category plate semi finals
Brian Yong (+10) lost to Jason Ray Khalil (-15) -5-15, 15-12, 11-15
Joseph Mekdeci (+6) def. Regan Pollard (-25) 12-15, 15-11, 15-14
Scheduled matches last evening:
Open category finals: Andrew Arjoon v Alan Downes
Open category 3rd place play off: Joven Benn v Michael Atherley
Open category plate: Jason Ray Khalil v Joseph Meckdeci
Open category 3rd place play off: Brian Yong v Regan Pollard
A category finals: J. Van Lange v J. Van Dyk
A category 3rd place play off: J. Antczak v J. Douglas
A category Plate finals: P. Fraser v S. John
A category plate 3rd place playoff: B. Mekdeci v D. Noel

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