Kirton boys acing it

our Barbados players are presently in Saint Lucia for the Sagicor Junior International Tennis Tournament. Being played at the National Tennis Centre in Beausejour, Gros Islet, this competition is part of the COTECC (Confederation of Tennis of Central America and the Caribbean) Under-14 Caribbean Tour.

Regrettably, there has been precious little play, thanks to a number of rain interruptions. Sets have been curtailed as well, but the tournament is beginning to shape up nonetheless, as it heads towards a climax on Thursday.

In two days of scheduled play, the boys were able to get in seven matches, whilst only five matches had been concluded on the girls’ side.

Barbados’ Micah Austin, who is unseeded, lost to Trinidad & Tobago’s Anneleise Orr, the sixth seed, 5-3, 1-4, 10-6. Also unseeded, Adai Hope went down to fifth seed Shreya Rawat of St Kitts & Nevis, 4-0, 4-0.

The number two seed overall, and top seed in Group 2, Dimitri defeated Saint Lucih a’s Denney Estava 4-2, 4-1 to get play underway. Fourth-seeded Zane trounced Giovanni Quinn of Antigua & Barbuda 4-2, 4-1 to top his group as well. The Antiguan is the number five seed.

Both boys, of course, are fresh off making singles and doubles finals in St Vincent & the Grenadines, where they came away with a first place trophy and two second-place gongs. Damani Kirton, their father, told Barbados TODAY that the brothers (both of whom attend Queens College) are enjoying their holiday travels.

“Well, we’ve been having a very productive summer,” he said. “We just came from St Vincent & the Grenadines, where Dimitri was victorious in his bid for the singles title at COTECC Under 14, and his brother’s made it to the final as well. We are now here in Saint Lucia, where they’re vying for the single titles as well. We were lucky to make it to the main draw, I’m hoping that they can do as well as they can, and that results are good.”

The senior Kirton noted that in addition to their interest in tennis, both boys are keen on chess, both play steelpan, and they enjoy a day swimming at the beach. In fact, the boys were challenging each other to a chess match whilst waiting out the rain. Damani explained to Barbados TODAY that their closeness has been an important aspect of their continued growth.

“In the last couple of years, well, we have definitely seen an increase in their maturity,” he said. “They have more control over their emotions, in that they are able to deal with the wins and the losses in a more moderate way. Skillwise they continue to improve; we want to thank the Trident Academy in Barbados, where they train.

“And their overall development has continued to be positive. A lot of it has to do with the fact that they have each other to feed off of with the wins and the losses, with the training, with the physical aspect, as well as the mental aspects. So it’s good they have each other, and because of that they have to push each other to higher heights.”

Damani said his hope is that tennis will be able to contribute to the boys’ education down the road. “The sky’s the limit,” he concluded.

(TF)