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Fantastic Fernandes produces fascinating Squash to win Gold
‘Nicolette is fitter than most athletes despite her age’ says Coach Chan-a-Sue
By Sean Devers
On Wednesday night in Guatemala, the joyous noise which emanated from Asociacion Deportiva Nacional de Squash when Guyana and Caribbean Squash sensation Nicolette Fernandes scored game and match point in the final of the Senior Pan American Squash Championships in Guatemala could be heard in Georgetown and Toronto, Canada where the ageless Nicolette was born.
Proving age is just a number like good wine, Nicolette is getting better with age as she produced a dominant 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 win to take the match in emphatic fashion 3-0 over the number 1 seeded Laura Tovar of Colombia.
Nicolette Fernandes flashes an infectious smile after her Gold Medal performance.
Nicolette, who turns 39 on June 19, is the first Female Guyanese to win Gold at this event.
Nicolette, who won the only gold medal for Guyana at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia beating Samantha Terán in the final which lasted 5 sets before suffering a knee injury the following year which kept her out of action for 23 months, only lost one game on the road to Wednesday night’s final.
The Caribbean Squash Queen dominated for an outstanding win in her semi-final match Tuesday night against the number 2 seed Canadian Hannah Blatt- storming into a straight set triumph 11/2 11/9 11/3.
With the men failing to win a Medal in the singles or doubles categories, the pressure of giving Guyana an individual Medal rested on the slender shoulders of Nicolette… and she did so in magnificent style playing top class squash.
Nicolette, who in 2010 became only Guyanese female to win both the Women’s and Men’s national senior titles, came out strong in the final, at home on the court and in command.
Fernandes hugs the Colombian after beating her 3-0 in the final in Guatemala.
Tovar could not take the pace off Nicolette cross courts or cover the court fast enough for her precise placement. With a few full-length dives Nicolette kept the ball in play on many occasions it looked out of reach and was back in the rallies to dominate, hitting some tight shots forcing weak returns.
She kept her opponent turning and forcing her into the back corners waiting for the perfect opportunity for the kill.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Coach Ramon Chan-A-Sue disclosed that Nicolette was excited to get back to this position again.
“I think given the timing of this at this point in her career, it is definitely one of her best performances.
I was confident she had a shot based on her previous play but you never know what might happen on the day of the final,” continued Chan-a-Sue who began playing squash as a ten-year-old with his father since Squash was an activity to do during the rainy season in Guyana, when his original favourite sport, cricket, was in its off season.
“Nicolette’s fitness is second to none to any athlete regardless of age. She is super fit.
She just was more athletic and on the ball quicker than Laura, and used all corners of the court,” said Coach Chan-Sue, who coached the Canadian National Senior Team 2005 Pan-American Championships.
Guyana Head Coach Ramon-Chan-A-Sue.
“I am most impressed that she has the ability to do what she is doing at this stage in her career. She has been our light at this tournament, as the rest of the team have had some challenging results so we were excited for her and what it meant for her and Guyana,” informed Chan-a-Sue who played for Guyana from 1990 to 2015.
When asked what’s next for Nicolette, the Canada based Chan-a-Sue who been a Coach for over 25 years, laughingly said ‘A massage and maybe a drink’.
Guyana will now focus on the team segment as they aim to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean Games. The top eight Women and top ten Male teams will gain automatic qualification.
The other members of team Guyana are Alex Arjoon, Kristian Jeffrey, Jason-Ray Khalil, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, Ashley Khalil, Mary Fung-A-Fat and Gabrielle Fraser, Ramon Chan-A-Sue (Coach), Garfield Wiltshire (Manager) and Alwyn Callender (Referee).
Meanwhile, Guyana men defeated BVI 3-0 in the team event and will face the number 2 seed the USA today. And the women will also face Argentina today in quarterfinal action.
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