History set to repeat in National squash finals
Guyana Chronicle
July 6, 2003
HISTORY seems set to repeat itself in today’s Men’s and Ladies’ Singles finals in the Broadband Wireless National Squash Championship at Georgetown Club.
Defending champion Shawn Badrinauth and last year’s losing finalist Robert Fernandes were pitted against the same opponents as in last year’s semifinals. Yesterday, Badrinath was due to take on Julian Chin and Fernandes was down to oppose former champion Regan Pollard.
The repeat match-up materialised after Friday’s quarter-finals in which Badrinauth disposed of Ryan Farnum, dropping just three points for a three-game win 9-1, 9-2, 9-0.
Fernandes had a tougher time advancing to the semifinals after dropping the first game 7-9. He wrapped up the match taking three straight 9-0, 9-5, 9-6.
Chin also dropped the first game before getting past Jerry Bell 7-9, 9-1, 9-7, 9-4, while Pollard disposed of Dennis Dias 9-7, 9-6, 9-6.
Last year Badrinauth defeated Chin and he went on to capture his first National Singles title, the symbol of squash supremacy.
But Fernandes had created the biggest upset of the championships when he defeated outgoing champion Pollard in a gruelling semifinal encounter.
Pollard had won the first game 9-6, but Fernandes equalised, taking the second 9-2. Pollard went ahead with a 10-8 win in the third but again Fernandes levelled the score, claiming the fourth 9-3.
Fernandes booked his place in the final for the first time, clinching the fifth and deciding game 9-3.
Badrinauth, as expected, won Canada-based Julian Chin 10-8, 9-2, 9-0 to reach the final a second consecutive year. Will history repeat itself?
On the distaff side, defending champion Denise Jeffrey and Kathy Shuffler could again clash in the finals. The sisters were due to come up against their nieces Andrea and Kristina King in their respective semifinals.
In the quarter-finals, Jeffrey defeated Kimberly Jeffrey 9-5, 9-2, 9-0, while Shuffler demolished Chelsea Fung - not conceding a point - 9-0, 9-0, 9-0.
Andrea King whipped Daina King, 9-0, 9-3, 9-2 and Kristina King put away Tiffany Solomon, 9-3, 9-5, 9-6. (Isaiah Chappelle)