Caribbean Championships starts this weekend

Jamaica will be among seven countries that will gather this weekend for the 18th Caribbean Squash Championships scheduled for St Vincent and the Grenadines.



The remaining countries competing in the August 15 to 22 tournament are Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guyana and the OECS.



In the individual tournament, Jamaica’s main hope is Chris Binnie, who will be attempting to defend his title but the return of Guyana’s Richard Chin will bring an interesting twist to the championship race.



A six-time junior champion during the 1980s, Chin has plied his trade in the United States in recent years and will expect to be a major stumbling block for Binnie.



Defending team champions Trinidad and Tobago are highly fancied to retain their title.



In the women’s draw, T&T will be eyeing perennial champions Barbados closely in their attempt to repeat as champions.



The individual tournament will have to do without women’s defending champion Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana who has other playing commitments.



This development leaves Barbadians Karen Meakins and Cheri-Ann Parris as the heavy favourites to take the title, with an all-Barbados final now widely expected.