Bajan players strike gold at Regional Badminton Championships

Barbados’ national badminton champion Kennie King reigned supreme at the 2025 Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Seniors Tournament, capturing two gold medals on Tuesday morning at the National Racquet Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.

King delivered a golden double, first lifting the men’s singles crown with a spirited 13–21, 21–16, 21–13 comeback victory over hometown favourite Vance Juteram of Trinidad and Tobago.

Since claiming his first national senior title in 2020 as a teenager, King has continued to dominate the circuit, and this latest CAREBACO triumph adds another glittering chapter to his growing legacy.

Starting with the Round of 64, King made light work of Ethan Jitmansing of Trinidad and Tobago (21-10, 21-13) in straight sets. King’s strong attacking game strategy worked effectively as he also slammed another hometown boy Josh Jebodsingh (21-8, 21-11) in the Round of 32.

This is the first time since 2018 that CAREBACO has returned and it was an absolute walk in the park for King, showing his exceptional form, this time in the Round of 16 against  Nicholi Jebodsingh, winning 21-9, 21-14 to reach the quarterfinals which he won 21-1, 21-15 over Sheraz Nabbie of Trinidad.

In the semifinals, it was King facing Kenneth Anglin of Jamaica. Barbados’ #1 ranked King unleashed his wrath 21-7, 21-16 to book his place in the final where he met Juteram in the final and emerged as champion.

King returned to the court to claim the men’s doubles title alongside national teammate Shae Martin.

The Barbadian pair were dominant in the doubles final, defeating Jamaica’s Kenneth Anglin and Matthew Yee Grant 30-28, 21-18.

Barbados also celebrated success in the women’s doubles, where Sabrina Scott teamed up with Trinidad and Tobago’s Nekeisha Blake to claim the gold medal via walkover after their opponents, Guyana’s Priyanna Ramdhani and Trinidad’s Chequeda De Boulet, were unable to contest the final.

(AS)