Guyana’s Ashley Khalil and Kirsten Gomes are set to battle for Women’s Doubles gold at the South American Senior Squash Championships in Brazil after a hard-fought semi-final victory on Thursday morning.
The Guyanese duo demonstrated resilience to overcome Ecuador’s Darlyn Sandoval and Tabita Gaitan in a tense encounter, ultimately triumphing 9-11, 11-9, 11-8.
Their victory ensures they will leave with at least a silver medal.
They are scheduled to face the Paraguayan pair Ana Maria Pinto and Giselle Delgado in the championship match later on Thursday evening.
However, in the Men’s Doubles, Jason-Ray Khalil and Samuel Ince-Carvalhal bowed out at the quarter-final stage.
The pair were defeated 11-4, 11-8 by Chile’s Agustín Carranza and Matias Lacroix.
There was further disappointment in the Mixed Doubles, where Michael Alphonso Jr. and Gabrielle Fraser’s campaign also ended in the quarter-finals, succumbing 11-4, 11-1 to Brazilian home hopes Murilo Pentea and Bruna Marchesi.
In the singles competitions, Gomes began brightly in the Women’s draw, dispatching Paraguay’s Nicole Krauch 11-3, 11-6, 11-7.
However, her progress was halted in the round of 16 by Brazil’s Juliana Pereira, who secured an 11-4, 11-4, 12-10 win.
Ashley Khalil also tasted initial success, overcoming Tabita Gaitan of Guatemala in a see-saw battle 11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 15-13.
Her singles journey concluded in the round of 32, where she was beaten 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 by Argentina’s Antonella Falcione.
The Men’s Singles saw early exits for the Guyanese contingent. Michael Alphonso Jr. was defeated 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 by Damian Casarino of Paraguay in the round-of-32.
In the same round, Jason-Ray Khalil fell to Argentine Francisco Alfonso, despite taking the first game, with the final scoreline reading 11-8, 4-11, 5-11, 5-11.
RESULTS: https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/tournament/28434f62-22c8-4efb-a595-502eb837781f/Matches
The post Guyana’s Khalil and Gomes to battle for gold at South American Squash Championships appeared first on News Room Guyana.
