Badminton players lean on Ricketts for inspiration
Published:Saturday | April 29, 2023 | 1:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
JAMAICA’S leading male badminton player Samuel Ricketts carried the weight of expectations on his shoulders as the island looked to win a gold medal at the Yonex Pan American Individual Championships at G.C. Foster College. Ricketts, however, fell just short of his expected goal. On yesterday’s day three of the championships, Ricketts and his mixed doubles partner Tahlia Richardson exited the tournament at the quarterfinal stage as they suffered a 21-11, 21-15 defeat to Canada’s Joshua Hurlburt-Yu and Rachel Honderich. Jamaica’s last chance at securing a medal was then left on the shoulders of Ricketts and Bradley Evans as they competed against Canada’s pair of Dong Adam and Nyl Yakura in the men’s doubles quarterfinal action but they also came up short and were defeated 21-8, 21-5.
Evans hailed the contribution of Ricketts to team spirit during the tournament. He credits Ricketts for giving him words of encouragement and motivation. He revealed, however, that when he got news that he’ll be the one to partner the top player in the men’s doubles there was some level of nervousness.
“To be honest, at first when I found out that I would have been partnering Ricketts, I was a bit nervous because it would have been a lot of pressure. He’s Jamaica’s number one, but as we progressed in the tournament I started feeling more comfortable. He motivated me, so partnering Samuel Ricketts was indeed a big deal. It (partnering Ricketts) put me in a position where I had to step up my level to his in order to compete with these other players,” Evans stated.
Evans, who represented the country in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles, stated that he was pleased with his overall performance after playing at this level for the first time.
“I’m not disappointed (with performance), this is my first tournament for Jamaica at this level and I managed to reach the quarterfinals in the men’s doubles which was a big achievement for me,” Evans stated.
Zane Reid, who also was representing Jamaica for the first time, featured in men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles action.
“Well, I would say there were disappointing results but it was my first senior international tournament, so everything was a learning experience. In the mixed doubles it was challenging because I was partnering Alexandra Beckford for the first time but I’m sure we can come back again and improve in the future,” Reid stated.
The double bronze medallist at the 2019 Caribbean Junior Championships added that with a player of Ricketts’ calibre in the camp, other players can learn from his experiences.
“Currently, Samuel (Ricketts) is by far the best Jamaica player and for us younger players it’s good to look up to him because he’s been to many tournaments and could possible qualify for the next Olympics, so hopefully we’ll follow in his footsteps,” Reid stated.