JAMAICA were in a fifth to eighth place battle with Barbados yesterday in the XXI Pan American Junior Team Event at Badminton Alberta in Sherwood Park, Canada.

On the opening day Sunday, Brazil and the USA whipped Jamaica, 4-1 and 5-0, respectively, to join hosts Canada and Peru as double winners on the first day of competition.

Katherine Wynter was the only Jamaican winner against the Brazilians, beating Mariana Freitas, 22-20, 21-14, in her singles match which lasted 23 minutes.

Jamari Rose lost to Italo Antonassi in his singles match, going down 21-9, 21-11, while in the mixed doubles Victor Moretti and Luana Vicente beat Samuel Ricketts and Wynter, 21-9, 21-6, doing so in 16 minutes.

Leonardo Alkimin and Antonassi defeated Rose and Ricketts in the boys doubles after triumphing with 22-20, 22-20, while the Brazilians were awarded the point in the girls doubles.

The Americans dominated their team event with Ricketts putting a fight against Jeffrey Kuo in the boys singles. Kuo won, 21-17, 23-21, 22-20, in a 47-minute thriller.

Christine Yang took 16 minutes to polish off Wynter in the girls singles, winning, 21-2, 21-8, while the Americans also eased to victory in the mixed and boys doubles.

Also yesterday, Mexico defeated Jamaica 4-1 with Ricketts and Rose posting the only win when they beat Ramon Garrido and Daniel Martinez, 21-17, 23-25, 27-25, in the 38-minute boys doubles encounter.

Jamaica lost the boys and girls singles, mixed doubles, and gave a walkover in the girls doubles.

In the play-offs at press time, Rose defeated Jevon Gaskin 21-19, 21-14 and Wynter outpointed Monyata Riviera, 21-18, 21-19, while the Bajan girls pair of Mikiala Carrington and Monyata Riviera earned a walkover in the girls singles.

Individual play of the championships will get under way on Wednesday, with Wynter, Rose, and Ricketts.