Local squash players are expected to feature prominently at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Veracruz, Mexico.
In fact, they are chasing history.
And according to Craig Archer, president of the Barbados Squash Association (BSA), the players are on the cusp of going where only one other Barbados team has gone before.
“I stand to be corrected, but if squash wins a medal this year, it will be the second team sport in Barbados to medal at three consecutive CAC Games following ladies’ hockey,” Archer told the SUNDAY SUN.
Karen Meakins and Shawn Simpson have been appointed captains of an experienced six-member team that includes Nadia McCarthy, Alex Jordan and the Cumberbatch brothers, Gavin and Rhett. Archer will also be managing the team in Mexico.
“This is an experienced team and they have been buoyed by a very strong performance at the recent Caribbean Championships which Barbados successfully staged in August. We will overlook no country but we are quietly confident of returning home with some hardware.”
Barbados will compete in individuals, team, doubles and mixed doubles.
The women’s team is captained by Meakins, the reigning 14-time national champion. The current Caribbean champion will also be making her third successive appearance at the CAC Games having already claimed four medals – two bronze medals as part of the Barbados ladies team in 2006 and 2010, a bronze medal with Gavin Cumberbatch in mixed doubles in 2006, and an impressive silver medal in the ladies’ singles in 2010.
McCarthy, a former junior Caribbean champion who was also part of the 2006 bronze medal team, has been included in the squad along with the effervescent Alex Jordan who will be making her CAC Games debut.
The men’s team will be led by reigning seven-time national champion Simpson, who has also won a CAC Games bronze medal in men’s doubles with Gavin Cumberbatch, a former Caribbean and four-time national squash champion. This will be the third CAC Games for both and they will be joined by Gavin’s younger brother, Rhett, who will be making his CAC Games debut.
“This is the strongest team we could have possible picked and I am sure they will do Barbados and the local squash fraternity proud once again,” added Archer.
Barbados will be represented by 95 athletes in 19 sporting disciplines at the CAC Games which opened Friday night.
The squash team depart for Veracruz next Wednesday while the Games conclude on November 30. (BA/PR)
