It was?smooth sailing for the major players on the first night of the Caribbean Alliance Insurance Senior National Badminton Championships at the Barbados Community College on Wednesday.
But Under-17 triple crown national junior champion Shae Martin almost caused the first upset of the tournament when he stunned Damien Howell in the first game before eventually losing 20-22, 21-14, 21-14.
Howell had to draw on his experience to take the final two games to secure a spot in the quarter-final round. His job will get easier as he will be matched against D’Andre Thorpe.
Sabeel Foster also tried to upset the fancied Dakeil Thorpe and in the initial stages of the first game he seemed poised to take Thorpe to the wire. However, after the score was locked at 6-6, Thorpe took control of the game, pushing Foster to all areas of the court in order to set up his powerful jump smash to win 21-17, 21-11.
Cory Fanus was the only junior to unseat a senior player when he defeated Andrew Clarke 21-18, 21-16. Fanus trailed at the first interval 8-11 and later 13-17 as he committed a number of unforced errors. But he stormed back with an 8-1 run to come from behind and take the game and maintain the momentum to win the match.
Amanda Haywood gave Monyata Riviera all she could handle but Riviera survived to book a semi-final berth against the defending champion Mariama Eastmond when she defeated Haywood 21-19, 9-21, 21-14.
The other semi-final is between Shari Watson and Tamisha Williams. Watson and Williams defeated Sabrina Scott 21-10, 21-15 and Onika Moe 21-4, 21-5, respectively.
Following are Wednesday’s results.
Women’s Singles quarter-finals
Monyata Riviera def. Amanda Haywood 21-19, 9-21, 21-14
Tamisha Williams def. Onika Moe 21-4, 21-5
Shari Watson def. Sabrina Scott 21-10, 21-15
Men’s Singles (Round of 32)
Dakeil Thorpe def. John Cupples 21-2, 21-3
Damien Howell def. Kennie King 21-16, 21-3
Andre Woodvine won by default from Keshem Moore
Round of 16
Bradley Pilgrim def. Aaron Leslie 21-4, 21-4
Aslam Bhikha def. Bryan Cupples 21-19, 21-5
Cory Fanus def. Andrew Clarke 21-18, 21-16
Dakeil Thorpe def. Sabeel Foster 21-17, 21-11
Damien Howell def. Shae Martin 20-22, 21-14, 21-14
D’Andre Thorpe def. Kodie King 21-12, 21-12
Nicholas Sobers def. Andre Woodvine 21-15, 21-11
Andre Padmore def. Gavin Robinson 21-5, 21-0 (PR/EZS)
