By Travis Seymour
The Guyana Badminton Association’s National Junior Singles Tournament kicked off at the National Gymnasium with impressive performances from Xavio Alexander and Gabriel Felix headlining the opening day.
Sponsored by the National Sports Commission, the tournament featured 28 matches across various categories.
Xavio Alexander demonstrated his skill by securing victories in both the under 17 and under 19 categories.
He started with a dominant performance against Joel Prince in the U19 singles, winning 21-4 and 21-3.
He continued his winning streak by defeating Casey Beckles in straight sets, 21-4 and 21-7.
Gabriel Felix also displayed strong form in the U19 boys’ singles, first defeating Reuel Rampersaud and then overcoming Darion Thomas in a competitive match, with scores of 22-20 and 21-15 in the U17 singles.
Other notable winners included Christopher Jordan, Vishal Gopaul, Malia Haley, Leshaunte Berkley, Gabriella Henry, Darion Thomas, Jonathan Robinson, and Navaeh Eastman in the U19 singles category.
In the U17 category, Mishka Beharry, Mohammed Farouk, Nikolas Pollard, Christopher Jordan, Avinash Ramnarine, and Menikshi Jaikisson emerged victorious in their opening matches.
Young talents such as Emma Ramsaran, Ethan Ramsaran, Ethan Bulkan, Joel Rambiriche, Phillip Stephens, Mohamed Farouk, and Riyo (Rio) Alexander also claimed wins across the U15, U13, and U11 categories.
Assistant Director of Sport Franklin Wilson officially opened the tournament, emphasizing its importance in nurturing young talent within the Badminton Academy.
Ayanna Watson, Vice-President of the Guyana Badminton Association, highlighted the tournament’s role in their annual calendar and its significance in developing the sport at grassroots levels.
The competition, structured across five categories for boys and girls from under 11 to under 19 singles, will culminate with the semifinals and finals scheduled for Thursday.
Trophies will be awarded to the top performers in each category, further motivating the participants.