Pyne here to defend AJ badminton title

The much-travelled Charles Pyne is in the island to compete in this weekend's Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA) All-Jamaica Championships. Pyne will defend his men's singles crown.

Pyne, Jamaica's top-ranked badminton player, despite residing in Canada, has been busy on the regional circuit this year as he attempts to position himself to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. The player, who recently took part in the Pan Am Championships, the Santo Domingo Open and the Puerto Rico Inter-national, is favoured to once again lift the main men's title.

Audley Astwood, vice-president of the JBA, expressed delight that the Pyne was able to attend the event as it added to the competitiveness of the local tournament.

"We are delighted that he is able to attend and we made a very special effort to get him to attend," Astwood told The Gleaner.

"He is the defending champion and favoured, but it is going to be an interesting tournament as he could be challenged by Gareth Henry. I hope it lives up to expectations."

Henry, the only other male player seeded internationally, proved little challenge for Pyne in last year's edition of the tournament but has improved steadily. In fact, the player was a quarter-finalist in October's Pan American Badminton Cham-pionships, while Pyne was knocked out in the earlier rounds.

Worthy challengers

In women's action, Alya Lewis will be firm favourite for the women's title as many-time champion Nigella Saunders is still recovering after having surgery on a Achilles tendon injury, suffered during the Racketeers tournament in August. Kristal Karjohn as well as top junior Mikaylia Haldane could prove some worthy challengers to Lewis.

The men's doubles event is also expected to be an entertaining one as it will feature many former great players, among them Robert Richards and Dr William 'Tommy' Lee, who have not played competitively in a long while. The tournament will get under way this evening at the Constant Spring Golf Club and finish on Sunday.