REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Andre Padmore and Shari Watson won the Barbados Badminton Association's first ranking tournament for the year at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex gymnasium last Friday.

Padmore won the men's title 21-17, 23-21 in a nail-biting final against Curwin Cherubin which produced a high level of badminton. Unfortunately for Cherubin, he was defeated by Padmore's signature cross-court smash.

Before this, Padmore defeated junior champion Bradley Pilgrim 21-8, 21-10 in the first round of the men's singles and moved into the quarter-finals where he defeated Kelvin Mallet Sr 21-8, 21-13.

In the first semi-finals, Padmore played Dakeil Thorpe in a very fast-paced game where he won 21-17, 21-15. Thorpe had defeated Richard Gittens 21-10, 21-17 to reach the semis.

The other semi-finals, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, was a hard-fought game with Cherubin defeating Kevin Wood
15-21, 21-15, 21-12.

The women's final was just as exciting as the men's singles with Watson taking the title with a thrilling 21-18, 15-21, 23-21 victory over Mariama Eastmond.

Both players pressured each other's weaknesses with Eastmond going up 18-14 but due to unforced errors, Watson stormed back to win the first set.

But Eastmond composed herself in the second set and won 21-15, setting up a deciding last set, in which Watson edged Eastmond 23-21.

Earlier, Watson, after a first round bye, whipped under-15 champion Monyata Riviera 21-6, 21-2. Riviera had defeated Akila Knight 21-10, 21-7 in the first round.

In another quarter-final match, Mikeila Carrington triumphed over athletics coach Wendy Barrow-Smith 21-16, 21-12 but lost to Watson 6-21, 10-21 in the semi-finals. In the other semi-final, Eastmond outplayed Sabrina Scott 21-16, 21-12.

A second ranking tournament for both men and women will be held on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the same venue. These tournaments will be held regularly to gauge the players' performances over the year. (EZS/PR)