Squash success in Colombia, now on to Cayman

The Jamaican squash team had a successful Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia, according to Chris Binnie, the country's top player.

Binnie said Jamaica placed fifth in the medal count, gaining two bronze medals, behind Mexico, which placed first, and, ahead of medallists Barbados, Bermuda and Guyana. To put this in perspective, in the team events, Jamaica had been ranked ninth out of the 11 participating teams going into the competition.

"Jamaica did very well in squash at the Games," Binnie said. "The region is becoming very strong, with many top players in the world, and it is great to know that the Jamaican team is continuing to improve and challenge players at the top levels."

The team consisted of Binnie, Bruce Burrowes and Lewis Walters. They were playing in a tournament that ran over seven days, ending on July 26 in the city of Cali, Colombia.

The three formed a small part of the massive 186-member contingent participating in the 23rd Games, which continues through to August 3. Other sports being showcased include athletics, basketball, football, hockey and swimming.

BRONZE MEDAL

"I got a bronze medal for Jamaica in the individual events, losing to Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia," Binnie said. "After that, the team took home a bronze when we beat Cayman, before losing narrowly to Mexico.

"Overall, we achieved the same number of medals as in the last CAC Games held in Mexico four years ago, but we did so against much stiffer competition," Binnie said. "Instead of jointly taking fifth place in the medal standings with Guyana, as we did 2014, we now hold that position by ourselves, as Guyana fell in ranking."

President of the Jamaica Squash Association (JSA), Chris Hind, said: "The Jamaican team has made us proud. Chris, Bruce and Lewis make up a very strong contingent, and they showed the determination needed in tough competition."

"Their success is the result of years of hard work, and we at the JSA pledge to support their continued development and that of the country's squash programme," Hind said, pointing out that, "There will be an excellent opportunity for us to promote that development at the Pan American Championships in August."

Managing director of JN Fund Managers, Allan Lewis, stated that, "As Chris Binnie's sponsors, we could not be more pleased with his achievements. We know just how hard he and the other team members have worked, and we hold them up as examples all of us can emulate."

Binnie added: "I think the CAC Games has been good for the development of squash in Jamaica, and we are now looking forward to the Pan American Championships, starting August 26 in The Cayman Islands.

"With 20 countries participating, including the United States of America, Mexico and Brazil, the competition will be stiff," Binnie related. "Therefore, this will be an outstanding opportunity for us to expose even more Jamaican players to world-class competition. I am looking forward to that event."