Wilson brothers advance

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The Wilson brothers, Sean and Shane, are among three Jamaican qualifiers into today's singles semi-finals in the Ocean Spray/WATA XX Pan Am Junior Badminton championships being staged at the National Indoors Sports Centre.

Sean, who competes in the boys' Under-15 category, had to work overtime in his quarter-final match against Canada's Jason Ho-Shue, before the getting the better of his opponent, 22-20, 18-21, 23-21, much to the delight of the home supporters.

The 14-year-old Sean, the nation's best prospect of securing a gold medal in singles at the championships, will face Albert Li of the United States in his semi-final and he is looking forward to the clash.

Confident

"I am feeling confident," said Sean, who will team with countryman Shevon Salmon in today's semi-final of the boys' Under-15 doubles event against Li and Raymond Hsia. "I feel like I can win and get gold medals in both of them," Wilson said.

Shane Wilson will battle Fabricio Farias of Brazil in the boys' Under-13 singles semi-final. Wilson recorded an easy 21-7, 21-16 win over Gokul Kalyanasundaram of the United States in his quarter-final match.

Samuel Ricketts is the other Jamaican who has made it through to today's singles semi-finals.

Ricketts booked his spot in the last four of the boys' Under-17 singles with an exciting 21-17, 15-21, 21-17 win over Ygo Coelho De Oliveira of Brazil.

Ricketts, who will oppose Sebastian Macias of Peru, is oozing confidence ahead of the encounter.

"I played against him in the doubles and and he is not very strong," said Ricketts. "I think I will beat him tomorrow and go through to the final," he said.

Meanwhile, two Jamaican girls are also down to compete in the semi-finals of the doubles.

The Under-11 team of Shannon Morgan and Emily Reynolds advanced after receiving a walkover. The Jamaicans will face Brazil's pair of Luanna Capuli and Tamires Vitoria Dos Santos.

Local Under-13 pair, Alana Bailey and Shantae Smith, also received walkover to today's semi-finals. They will face the American pair of Breanna Chi and Stephanie Yu.