Jamaica team knocked out in quarter-finals

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Hosts Jamaica were knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the team section in the Ocean Spray WATA/Pan Am Junior Badminton Championships yesterday.

Jamaica were thrashed 3-0 by Canada on the second day of the tournament at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

In the opening mixed doubles match, Jamaica's Mikaylia Holdane and Gerald Isaacs were easily beaten by Canada's Clinton Wong and Kacey Tung (2-0), 21-6, 21-11. Canada's Nyl Yakura defeated Anthony McNee (2-0) 21-11, 21-17 and Bethany So outclassed Jade Clarke (2-0), 21-6, 21-9, as the Canadians swiftly moved into the semi-finals of the competition.

Audley Astwood, manager of the Jamaican team, said he was let down by his team's performance.

"It was very disappointing for us because we thought we could beat Canada, but as it turned out we lost the mixed doubles and the ladies' singles easily," said Astwood.

"We got into a rhythm late and the two doubles that we thought we would win weren't played, because we had already lost the tie," Astwood said.

However, Astwood noted that he is expecting a much better showing for the Jamaicans, when they compete in the individual singles events which begin tomorrow.

"I think that some of the youngsters would win medals in the individual competition based on their past performances at the championship," said Astwood. "They are also going to be seeded very high in this section and this make it a lot better for us ... ," he said.

Shane Wilson and Sean Wilson are among Jamaica's main hopes heading into the individual competition, which starts tomorrow.

JA take on peru

The Jamaicans will oppose Peru in the fifth-place play-off today.

The Canadians will today face Guatemala in the semi-finals which also begin today. The Guatemalans gained a bye to the last four.

In the other semi-final clash, Brazil will battle archrivals the United States, who gained their spot after receiving a bye.

The Brazilians secured their place in the semi-finals with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Peru. In the mixed doubles, Gonzalo Duanny and Micaela Rivero gave Peru the lead when they defeated Brazil's pair of Victor Garboggini Moretti and Luana Tamara Vicente 19-21, 21-13, 25-23.

However, the Brazilians fought their way back into the match, when Lohaynny Vicente stopped Luz Maria Zornoza, 21-11, 21-10 to level the tie. Moretti and Leonardo Martin Alkimim secured Brazil's two other victories to wrap up the match.