Karen Meakins isn’t messing about.
In ominous form and clearly sensing an opportunity for outright victory, the local squash queen yesterday booked her place in the semi-finals of the 22nd Senior Caribbean Squash Championships at the Barbados Squash Club.
Installed as the pre-tournament favourite in the absence of defending champion and world No. 19 Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana, the reigning 14-time national champion comfortably disposed of Akelia Wiltshire in straight games. Buoyed by home support, Meakins wasted little time against the youthful Guyanese, beating the left-hander 11-2, 11-6, 11-3.
Barbados’ best will now face Wiltshire’s compatriot, Ashley DeGroot, who defeated Eilidh Bridgeman of the Cayman Islands 11-9, 14-12, 11-6 in the quarters.
Bridgeman had earlier defeated local player Alex Jordan in a marathon match that ended 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7.
“I’m feeling good and I’ve played some solid squash so far,” said Meakins, the 2010 National Sportsperson of The Year.
“But you can’t underestimate any of these girls. This tournament is stacked with the best players from around the region, and while I’m quietly confident of getting the job done, I’m just taking it one game at a time.”
Nadia McCarthy, who along with Meakins was representing the “broken trident” in the quarters, was unsuccessful in her bid to unseat No. 2 seed Mary Fung-A-Fat of Guyana, dropping the match 7-11, 11-1, 11-0, 11-8.
Fung-A-Fat was set to face compatriot Victoria Arjoon in the semis after the 18-year-old defeated Brooke Burrowes of Jamaica 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 15-13.
Among the men, Shawn Simpson was the lone Barbadian to make an appearance in the final eight. Coming up against Richard Chin, Simpson was unable to overcome the effects of a sore shoulder and surrendered to the Guyanese veteran in straight games 11-5, 11-7, 11-6.
Chin will now face four-time champion Chris Binnie of Jamaica who won a close encounter with Micah Franklin of Bermuda 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-7.
In the bottom half of the draw, Sunil Seth of Guyana demolished Trinidad’s Colin Ramasra 11-2, 11-5, 11-8.
The No. 2 seed will now face Cameron Stafford of the Cayman Islands who defeated Guyanese national champion Alex Arjoon 11-6, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4.
In the women’s plate, Jordan was scheduled to oppose Amanda Haywood in an all-Barbadian quarter-final. Also qualifying for the final eight was Ruth Deane-Webster. (BA/PR)
