Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago – Amara Urquhart is one step closer to defending her national title after a hard-fought victory over six-time national champion Nekeisha Blake and a dominant performance against Leanna Castanada at the National Badminton Championships. The tournament is currently underway at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua.
Urquhart, the reigning CAREBACO (Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation) Under-19 and open champion, secured her place in the women’s singles semifinals with a commanding 21-5, 21-2 victory over Castanada yesterday. This followed a dramatic opening-round match on Saturday where she narrowly avoided defeat against Blake, winning 14-21, 22-20, 21-19. The match marked Blake’s return to singles competition after a seven-year absence.
The victory over Blake was particularly noteworthy, as Urquhart found herself on the brink of elimination in both the second and third sets. She demonstrated resilience and composure to overcome a seasoned opponent in a closely contested battle. The match highlighted the growing depth of talent within Trinidad and Tobago’s badminton scene.
While Urquhart continues her pursuit of the championship, her younger sister, Aliyah Urquhart, was unsuccessful in her bid to reach the semifinals. She was defeated 21-19, 21-10 by T’Shelle Barnes, who recently retained her Under-19 title at the National Junior Championships.
Other notable results from the tournament include Danyelle Barnes, sister of the 2024 CAREBACO Under-17 champion, falling to Isabelle Waller 21-14, 21-14. Waller’s sister, Asia Lee, also competed, putting up a strong showing in her first-round match on Saturday despite ultimately losing.
The Under-15 division also saw exciting competition. The 2024 and 2025 CAREBACO Under-13 Triple Crown champion, recently crowned national champion in her first year in the Under-15 division, was narrowly defeated 21-16, 25-23 by national Under-19 runner-up Tenniya Tobias in a thrilling contest. The 2023 CAREBACO Under-15 champion also faced defeat, losing 21-11, 21-11 to top seed and defending champion Chequeda De Boulet, who had previously won 21-8, 21-15 against two-time defending national Under-17 champ Samiya Karim.
In the men’s competition, Zion St Rose emerged victorious in a competitive quarterfinal match, defeating Travis Sinanan 21-18, 21-14. Sinanan had previously overcome second-seeded Vishal Ramsubhag, the 2023 and 2024 CAREBACO Under-19 champion, in the round of 16.
Reece Marcano, the top-seeded 2024 champion, continued his dominant run, defeating Jace Smith 21-8, 21-4 after a convincing 21-5, 21-16 win over last year’s CAREBACO Under-16 champion Liam Persad in the last 16. Mikael Joachim also secured a comfortable victory, defeating 2011 CAREBACO Under-11 champion Leon Cassie 21-13, 21-8.
Will Lee, surprisingly unseeded despite a strong track record, advanced to the semifinals without dropping a set. He defeated two-time defending national Under-19 champion Ethan Ramcharan and last year’s CAREBACO open runner-up Vance Juteram 21-12, 22-20 in the last 16, before overcoming CAREBACO Under-19 champion Kaveer Ramoutar 21-12, 21-9 in the quarterfinals.
The semifinals were scheduled to accept place last night, with the champions of both singles and doubles set to be crowned tonight. The tournament continues to showcase the rising talent in Caribbean badminton, with players vying for national titles and regional recognition.
The National Badminton Championships represent a crucial stepping stone for Trinidad and Tobago’s athletes as they prepare for upcoming regional and international competitions, including the CAREBACO Championships. The level of competition has been exceptionally high, signaling a bright future for the sport in the country.
Fans can expect exciting matches and fierce competition as the tournament concludes. The champions will be determined in the coming days, solidifying their positions as the top badminton players in Trinidad and Tobago.
Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates and results from the National Badminton Championships.
