by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

However, in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, the player to catch the eye was from the host nation; Kyle Edghill was the young man in form and he gave the all-conquering Dominican Republic food for thought.

After accounting for Jamai Williams from St Vincent and the Grenadines in three straight games (11-4, 11-9, 11-5), he overcame Osvaldo Ramos in five games (11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10) to record a rare success against the visitors from the island of Hispaniola.

First place in the group and in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, there was further success for the host nation. Nickolus Romain and Elishaba Johnson both concluded the day unbeaten and in top spots in their respective groups.

Nickolus Romain beat Jamaica’s Tyreek Thompson (15-13, 4-11, 12-10, 11-7) and St Lucia’s Mario St Cyr (13-15, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7); Elishaba Johnson accounted for Cuba’s Carlos Sanchez (11-9, 11-1, 11-9) and Jamaica’s Ricardo Hall (11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6).

Success for Guyana in the Junior Boys’ Singles event; there was also success in the Cadet Boys’ Singles competition. Jamal Nickolas and Niron Bissu both secured first places.

Jamal Nickolas overcame Suriname’s Chen Reddy (11-6, 11-2, 11-6) and Aruba’s Robert Dirken (11-6, 11-7, 11-8); Niron Bissau beat St Lucia’s D’Andre Calderon (11-4, 11-6, 11-9) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Mesiah Walcott (11-4, 12-10, 11-9).

First places for Guyana; it was first places for the leading names in all four events. In addition to Mariano Lockward and Kyle Edghill in the Junior Boys’ Singles event; Tyrese Knight from Barbados alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s Lu O’Young topped his group.

Likewise, in the Cadet Boys’ Singles, it was first place for the Dominican Republic duo of Steff Guttierez and Jamal Nickolas as it was for Trinidad and Tobago’s Uzair Omardeen in addition to Guyana’s Jamal Nickolas.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Girls’ Singles first stage groups, top spots were secured by the Dominican Republic’s Esmerlyn Castro and Cinthia Sanchez; a situation which also applied to Janae Lewis of Barbados in addition to Jamaica’s Onika Francis and Cuba’s Shelly Machado.

Impressive performances from Esmerlyn Castro and Cinthia Sanchez; it was the same from their colleagues in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event. Dahyana Rojas, Estefany Rodriguez, Idelsa Baez and Rosa Torres all topped their groups. The one remaining group saw Trinidad and Tobago’s Shreya Maharaj finish in first place.

Play concludes in Georgetown on Tuesday 18th April.

2017 Caribbean Junior and Cadet Championships:
First stage results – Junior Boys’ Singles, Junior Girls’ Singles, Cadet Boys’ Singles, Cadet Girls’ Singles