Squash squad ready to face rivals at CAC

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica will be represented in 14 sporting disciplines, including squash, at the XXI Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, July 17-August 1.

Most medals are expected from the track and field team but the squash players will be seeking to be on the podium when the titles are decided.

Some team members have been in training since March, but not all of the players have been able to report for training due to work and school commitments overseas.

According to Jamaica's squash team manager to the games, Gillian Binnie, the squad is fit and ready to go.

"Some of the players have just recently returned, so the squad has been together for a couple of weeks now but they have been training away at school and at college," said Binnie. "They are fit and they are all ready to go. We have also got one more week to prepare them before we head to Bogota next Friday," she added. The g ames are being hosted by Puerto Rico in Mayaguez but the squash events will take place in Bogota, Colombia, as the hosts were unable to accommodate this event.

The men, who have never captured an individual medal at the games, are poised to do well this year as the team consists of both the current and past regional champions.

Gillian Binnie said: "For the men, Christopher Binnie is the current Caribbean champion; James Bullock is a past Caribbean champion. We are expecting the men to do quite well; we are hoping they will medal."

invaluable learning experience

Bennie does not, however, expect a lot, in terms of medals, from the women's team. The women won a singles silver medal in 2002 and silver in the doubles in 2006, but this time, Binnie believes the CAC Games will be an invaluable learning experience for the young ladies.

"As far as the ladies team goes, they are young and really going to get the experience that they need," said Binnie. "They have all played in Caribbean championships before; Melissa (Lue Yen) and Tracey (Binnie) have played once in the CAC Games before but they are still fairly inexperienced at this level, so we are not quite sure what the competition is going to be like for them. They have been training hard, they are going to be giving a good showing but we are not sure they will place at this tournament," she added.

Tracey Binnie, who is coming back from a nine-month layoff due to injury, is hoping to have a good tournament.

"I am coming back from injury, so it is quite hard. I just want to have a good tournament, play well and not get injured," she said.