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GSA pleased and excited about Fernandes gold medal performance – Burch-Smith
-Validates Government’s decision to build public courts
By Rawle Welch
President of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday said that they are extremely pleased and excited about the gold medal performance of world-rated Nicolette Fernandes at the South American Games in Medellin, Colombia.
The 26-year-old Guyanese defeated Silvia Angulo 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 in the final to claim gold, while Ashley Khalil lost her match to T. Borges 11-5, 11-3, 11-5.
Fernandes, who is currently rated #60 in the world, improved two places from her last month ranking and is presently enjoying her highest world ranking since November 2007 when she was 59th.
She is the reigning Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champion and collected her fourth Guyana Sportswoman of the Year award at last month’s National Sports Commission Awards.
Burch-Smith said that they are indeed happy that she has won a gold medal for Guyana and herself and the accomplishment is even more important because it clearly justifies her selection by the GOA.
“It shows that a broad make up of the team was correct, while it also justifies the Government’s support for the sport,” Burch-Smith pointed out.
Burch-Smith said her achievement also answers the critics who questioned her selection for the Sportswoman award.
Her team-mate Ashley Khalil also came in for commendation for her brave performance in both the Doubles and the Singles where she teamed up with Fernandes to claim bronze in the former event.
“Ashley’s performance with Nicolette is very encouraging and I understand that she played particularly well in the Singles, while for them to win the bronze in the Doubles against some of the top nations in South America is a good result,” the GSA President indicated.
Commenting on the two achievements of the two players in relation to the development of the sport here, Burch-Smith opined that it could serve to raise the profile of the game here and it validates Government’s decision to expand the game through the construction of two public courts, adding that perhaps that is the most important aspect.
He also paid tribute to Khalil’s parents and well wishers who together contributed immensely towards her participation.
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