Barbados captured the overall championship at the Pan Am Junior Squash Championships after the girls’ squad defeated Ecuador in Saturday’s team finals in Brazil.
Top talent Meagan Best, Amanda Haywood and Jada Smith-Padmore gave the Bajans their second gold medal of the championships.
It was the third overall medal for Barbados after Best won a silver in the girls’ singles event and then teamed up with Haywood to secure the girls’ doubles championship.
The shorthanded boys team of Khamal Cumberbatch and Josiah Griffith also put up a strong fight but barely missed out on a medal.
The performance was a spectacular one considering it was Barbados’ first appearance at a major junior championship.
‘Historic’
“This is indeed a historic moment for junior squash and it is clear that we are doing something right despite our challenges of facilities,” said Barbados Squash Association president Alison Smith-Padmore.
“I believe that it has a lot to do with the association putting our athletes at the forefront and having faith in their abilities even at major events such the Pan Am Championships as well as the dedicated group of parents.
“Our athletes are very talented, and they will need all the support they can get to continue to grow and be competitive at high levels. We have an emerging crop of junior athletes who are in dire need of more court time and access to greater resources to develop their skills and the association is committed to meeting these needs with the assistance of willing donors and sponsors,” she added. (JM)
