Fair finale for Jamaica in Badminton Int’l
HOST NATION Jamaica had to settle for second best, behind their international opponents, as the third annual Jamaica International Badminton Tournament climaxed yesterday, at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
There were two local flag bearers in yesterday’s final; Mikaylia Haldane and Katherine Wynter in the curtain raising women’s doubles.
All Jamaica champions Dennis Coke and Katherine Wynter paired up in the mixed doubles, which was played, after press time.
Haldane and Wynter finished second, copping silver, behind gold medallists and top seeded Leanne Choo of Australia, and Rachel Honderich of Canada, who outclassed them 21-2 and 21-8.
The Jamaicans, though losing were not dejected, according to top ranked Katherine Wynter.
GOOD GAME
“Overall it wasn’t a good game, we could have put up a much better fight, I think with a lot more training and practice we can put up a better fight next time,” the 21-year old told The Gleaner.
Wynter, when asked, sought to address the issue of whether foreign players are superior than Jamaicans, noting; “they have more ability to go to major tournaments, and more experience.”
Wynter bemoaned lack of exposure, experience and funding.
Jamaicans; Alana Bailey and Geordine Henry copped third place, as beaten semifinalists.
Local badminton fans had much to cheer about at the tournament which has been quiet so far, with an intriguing men’s singles final which saw top seeded Adam Mendrek, of the Czech Republic, lose a world-class battle to fourth seeded Soren Toft, of Denmark.
The scores were: 21-14, 14-21 and 22-20 to the Dane, who overcame injury stoppages on the court in the second set en-route to his epic win.
That game was slated to follow the Women’s Singles Final, top ranked Rachel Honderich versus Slovakian Martina Repiska,ranked second.