Tough times in Lima at Pan Am Squash

The Barbados squash team had a challenging first day at the 2024 Senior Pan American Squash Championships held in Lima, Peru. The team faced strong opponents, resulting in some promising performances and some tough trials.

The men’s team consists of Khamal Cumberbatch, Darien Benn, and Alex Stewart. The women’s team comprises Meagan Best, Sumairaa Suleman, and Eboni Atherley. Coach/Manager Shawn Simpson supports the team.

Khamal Cumberbatch opened the day for Barbados with an intense match against Pedro Mometto from Brazil. Despite delivering a few impressive rallies, Cumberbatch could not secure a win and fell 3-0. Mometto’s consistent performance proved too strong for Cumberbatch on this occasion.

Alex Stewart continued the day’s play with a competitive match against Camilo Cifuentes from Chile. Stewart made notable efforts but struggled with some short-length balls, leading to a 3-0 defeat.

Meagan Best was Barbados’s standout performer, delivering a 3-0 victory against Bruna Petrillo from Brazil. Best’s performance was impressive, as she overcame a tight second game to finish the match with confidence and skill. Best, who has been seeded at 5/8, moved on to the women’s quarterfinal, to face the #2 seed Danielle Ray from Canada.

Sumairaa Suleman faced a tough opponent in Fiorella Gatti, the Junior Pan American Squash Champion from Paraguay. Suleman’s match was a true test of her abilities, highlighting the elevated level of competition in the tournament. Sumairaa fought hard but lost in straight games.

Additional results from Day 1 include Caribbean Under-19 champion Eboni Atherley losing 3-1 to Camila Gallegos of Chile, and Darien Benn falling 3-0 to Canadian player Salah Eltorgman.

The Barbados team showed great sportsmanship and competitive spirit on the opening day. The performances set the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament. The team remained focused and determined as they prepared for their upcoming matches.

(PR)