KFC Senior Nat Squash C/Ships Pollard defies injury to reach Men’s Open semis Wiltshire, Joseph, and Khalil also qualify

Jun 16, 2019 Sports

Vince Lombardi, regarded as the best American Football Coach of all time, said in one of his famous quotes, ‘Winning means you are willing to go longer, work harder and give more than anyone else’ and on a damp and windy Friday night in his quarter-final match of the KFC Senior National Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club, 40-year-old Regan Pollard did just that, to limp into yesterday’s semis.

At 15, Shomari Wiltshire waltzed into the semis by beating the experienced Robert Fernandes in the KFC Squash tournament on Friday.

Regan Pollard (left) showed plenty of heart and determination to beat Peter Michael DeGroot 3-2 in a grueling match despite his hamstring injury.

Pollard, who wears his emotions on his sleeve, pulled a hamstring in the third game after winning the first two (12-10, 12-10) against Peter Michael DeGroot, who won the third (11-2) and the fourth (11-2).
At the start of the fifth and deciding game, Pollard who participated in the World over-35 Masters Championships last year in the USA, was allowed an addition three-minute injury time to ‘ice’ his right leg.
Number 3/4 seed Pollard, a former National Champion, who represented Guyana at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, showed great heart and intestinal fortitude to emerge victorious 11-6 after which he triumphantly screamed ‘never quit, never quit’ as the few spectators rose to applaud his effort.
In the second of the four Men’s Open quarter finals, Number one seed Jason Ray Khalil dropped one game as he defeated Nicholas Narine 11 – 3, 11 – 6, 10 – 12, 11 – 8, while Number two seed Nyron Joseph also surrendered one game as Damien Da Silva was precise with his cunning drop shots. However, Joseph was eventually victorious winning 11 – 6, 11 – 3, 9 – 11, 11 – 6.
Number 3/4 seed Shomari Wiltshire was the only one of the Men’s quarter finalists to be victorious without conceding a game as he won in straight sets against Robert Fernandes 11-3, 11-1, 11-4 but the score-line was not a true indication of the quality of the Squash on display as the pair engaged in very long and exciting rallies.

Jason Ray Khalil (left) beat Nicolas Narine.

Nyron Joseph (left) defeated Damion DeSilva on Friday night.

The 15-year-old Wiltshire, the Caribbean Junior Champion, is not only skilful but also possess a wonderful Squash brain and as the 41-year-old Fernandes began to tire, Wiltshire used his drop shots to great effect to shut out Fernandes 3-0.
In the Men’s plate, Gianni Carpenter had a contrasting evening as firstly he was victorious in his first match against Reagan Rodrigues scores being 11 – 2, 11 – 3, 11 – 3 but then lost in the next round in dramatic fashion to Jonathan Antczak with the fifth game finishing 12-10 to Antczak who won 11-4, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10.
In the other plate match played, Nicholas Verwey beat Adam Alves in four close games, 12 – 10, 11 – 9, 10 – 12, 11 – 9.

Regan Rodrigues and Gianni Carpenter in action in a ‘Plate’ match on Friday night at the GT Club.

In the Women’s plate, Kirsten Gomes defeated Sarah Lewis 11 – 4, 11 – 4, 12 – 10, while Lydia Fraser beat Teija Edwards 11 – 5, 11 – 1, 11 – 6.
In the Veterans Men’s Over-50, Joe Mekdeci defeated Medhi Ramdhani 11 – 7, 11 – 6, 11 – 5 while Garfield Wiltshire beat Tony Farnum 11 – 5, 11 – 5, 11 – 4.
The Tournament was scheduled to continue yesterday with the finals set for today when action will start at 11:00hrs. (Sean Devers)

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