KINGSTON, Jamaica— The female team representing Jamaica at the 30th edition of the Junior Caribbean Squash Championship recently held in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, brought home six medals – two gold; three silver and one bronze.

Mehar Trehan was the sole gold medallist in the individual competition defending her title in the Under-17 Girls’ category defeating her compatriot, Elle Wilson 3-0.

Trehan was strong from the outset and dominated her category, defeating all her opponents 3-0 without dropping a set.

Wilson had a more difficult route to the final and had to overcome Sarrayah Yearwood of Trinidad & Tobago in five games.

The doubles partnership of Sanjana Nallapati (captain) and Katherine Risden, captured the gold, defeating their Barbadian counterparts and number 1 seed of Eboni Atherley and Joanna Atkins 2-1. The Jamaican duo had to overcome a 1-set deficit to defeat the Bajans in a closely contested final; 9/11; 11/6, 11/9.

In the Girls’ Under-19 category, Jamaica had two competitors, Katherine Risden, the #1 seed, and Sanjana Nallapati (captain and #3 seed) vying for the top spot but they were denied gold both at the racquet of the eventual champion, Eboni Atherley of Barbados. Atherley dispatched Nallapati in the semis and Risden in the finals both with 3-0 victories. Risden and Nallapati captured silver and bronze respectively in the U19 Girls’ individual competition.

In her first Junior CASA tourney, Varenya Singh reached the semifinal of the Under-11 competition. Singh, who played with composure and grit, secured a fourth place finish in the Under-11 individual competition.

The Jamaican girls continued their winning ways in the Team event by earning the silver medal losing out to Barbados after the matches were knotted at three games a-piece. Jamaica started strong in the final with Risden overturning her individual loss to Atherley by winning 3-0.

Captain Nallapati and U17 Girls’ champion Trehan secured 3-0 victories. However, Barbados needed the final tie at U13 to equalise and force a count back in games. Marley Price fought valiantly but lost to the #2 seed forcing a tiebreak. The tiebreak was broken on a count back of games won between the two teams. Throughout the team event, various team members played key roles to ensure Jamaica reached the final. In particular, Marley Price secured one game in the semifinal match which ensured Jamaica reached the final on game count back.

“The team is one of the best in terms of their fighting spirit and camaraderie. From the youngest to the oldest we are not far off! Gold in doubles and the girls going all the way in the team event.

This has been an amazing experience for them and they are looking forward to continue to improve for next year’s event,” Coach Tahjia Lumley stated.

Jamaica finished fourth in the overall standings with the girls in second place and the boys’ team finishing in eighth place.

The teams were coached by Tahjia Lumley and managed by Nathlee Boreland.