Latest update August 4th, 2026 12:30 AM
Guyana starts well at 2026 Junior CASA championship; Arjoon, Bulkan, Gobin, Verwey among opening day winners
Kaieteur Sports – Reigning Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior champions Guyana made a confident start to the defence of their regional crown on Friday, collecting seven early victories across four divisions on the opening day of the 2026 championships in Tortola.
The Guyanese contingent announced its arrival with several commanding performances, led by strong displays in the Boys’ Under-13, Under-15 and Under-19 divisions, while Alexis Arjoon secured the country’s lone Girls’ Under-11 victory.
Jude Gobin (left) starts with win against Carter Farmer in the Boy’s U11 division.
In the Boys’ Under-11 category, Jude Gobin opened his campaign in thrilling fashion, battling from two games all to edge Barbados’ Carter Farmer 3-2. After splitting the opening four games, Gobin held his nerve to claim the decisive fifth 11-8 and seal an impressive comeback victory. Zain Alli, however, found the going much tougher, going down in straight games to Trinidad and Tobago’s Javed Ishmael, 11-2, 11-4, 11-5.
Young Arjoon ensured Guyana’s success in the Girls’ Under-11 division with a flawless display, overwhelming Trinidad and Tobago’s Gabriella Ellis 11-1, 11-1, 11-1 to record one of the day’s most dominant victories.
Egan Bulkan (left) crushed Jamaican Ethan Cherian 3-0 to record first win in Boy’s U15 division.
Guyana’s Boys’ Under-13 players also enjoyed an excellent start. Zion Hickerson and Jibril Alli both swept aside home players Devon Mellor and Ian David Cruickshank Ruiz respectively, each posting convincing 3-0 victories to strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
While fourth seed Finn Graham also opened his tournament on the right note, defeating Jamaica’s Jaden Emery in straight games.
The Boys’ Under-15 division produced contrasting fortunes for Guyana. Fourth seed Egan Bulkan underlined his title credentials with a commanding 3-0 victory over Jamaica’s Ethan Cherian, securing Guyana’s only win in the division. Kaiden Alli, meanwhile, was beaten in straight games by Trinidad and Tobago’s Nixon Callender II, losing 11-5, 11-9, 11-6.
Guyana continued to impress in the Boys’ Under-19 category. Top seed Shiloh Asregado comfortably defeated Barbados’ Caden Collymore 11-5, 11-2, 11-5, while fifth seed Joshua Verwey produced a composed 3-1 victory over the Bahamas’ Jonah Every. Third seed Eli Carpol also made a winning start, dispatching Alejandro Quiroz 11-5, 11-6, 11-4.
The only setback for Guyana in the division came when Blake Edwards was defeated by the Cayman Islands’ Charlie Makin.
Several Guyanese players were also scheduled to return to the courts later yesterday. At press time, forthcoming results included Jude Gobin against Javed Ishmael, Zain Alli versus Carter Farmer, Zion Hickerson against Savante Padmore and Jibril Alli against Egan Bulkan. Shiloh Asregado and Joshua Verwey were also due back in action. All results were recorded prior to press time.
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