Several talented young badminton players, including Yazmyn Eastmond, Isabelle Wood and Anik Price-Soudatt, were among those showing a determined mindset that stood out on court in the 2025 Joseph Gordon Junior Nationals last weekend at the Barbados Community College (BCC).
As the final weekend of competition approaches on April 5 and 6 at the same venue, several highly competitive matches are on the cards following a series of exciting qualifying matches.
The Under-11 Girls singles final promises to be a keen affair when No. 1 seed Yazmyn Eastmond takes on No. 2 Jasmine Hope.
Defending champion Eastmond hardly broke a sweat when she beat Zaria Mayers 21-4, 21-5, and Hope came through unscathed against Anaiya Smith, winning 21-8, 21-11.
The Under-11 Boys championship showdown is also expected to create a level of attraction between top-seeded players, Jeremi Wright and Siraj Brathwaite.
No. 1 Wright dismissed Lyam Clarke 21-13, 21-14, while Brathwaite hammered Nathaniel Carter 21-6, 21-7 during their respective semi-finals.
The Under-13 division is also expected to produce fireworks after favourite and top seed Soudatt-Price flew past Koyde Jordan 21-13, 21-14 in the opening round, and Isabelle Wood was in exceptional form, scoring an easy win, 21-3, 21-8, when she met Jazique Gibbons in the Under-13 Girls singles.
The real upset for the Under-13 Girls age group came when No. 1 Sarita Mottley lost a thriller to No. 2 Jordan Williams 21-16, 21-13.
In the third round of the Under-15 girls, Roshauna Massiah recovered from a loss in the first set to stop Rennisha Leacock 6-21, 21-16, 21-2.
Robin Alleyne-Gibson won his match in the quarterfinals of the Under-15 boys’ singles, advancing with a 21-4, 21-7 scoreline against Amitai Estwick, and Mason Hutchinson and Micah Morris outscored Alleyne-Gibson and Ari Boyce 21-13, 21-17 in the doubles for the same age group.
For the Under-17 Girls singles, Sahara Brathwaite delivered an impressive 21-4, 21-3 in the third round, and she combined with Kimmara Tull for the Under-17 Girls doubles, and they easily smashed their way to a 21-15, 21-18 win against Zaryah Cherubin and Giana Collymore.
Xavi Haynes and Isaiah Hinds secured a comfortable 21-8, 21-4 win against Teori Moseley and Bryson Quarless in the Under-17 boys’ doubles, and Samuel Humphrey and Kaden Stuart secured their place in the next round thank to a walkover against Kyyoh Belgrave and Daniel Murray.
There were a few walkovers in the Under-19 boys’ doubles when Nathan King and his teammate Logan Shorey advanced after Raheem Carrington and Jordan Green forfeited, and Carrington and Green were also expected to play Shailon Johnson and Alec Sattaur, but they were a no-show.
King, however, contested the Under-19 mixed doubles with Xian Trotman, and they destroyed Logan Shorey and Atthia Wood 21-6, 21-6. (AS)
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