It will be a repeat of last year’s finals in both the men’s and women’s singles divisions of the T&T Badminton Senior National Championships.
Defending women’s champion Chequeda De Boulet and Amara Urquhart will clash for a second time after both advanced from the semifinals Sunday at the National Racquet Centre (NRC) in Orange Grove, Tacarigua. De Boulet, who entered the tournament as the top seed, shrugged off a challenge from T’Shelle Barnes to prevail in straight sets, 21-13, 21-14. This followed her 21-11, 21-11 triumph over Tenniya Tobias in the quarterfinal round played earlier that day.
Urquhart, who defeated De Boulet at the Badminton Top Ten last year, made light work of Leanna Castanada in her semifinal showdown, whipping her 21-5, 21-2 to earn her spot in the title match.
Among the men, Will Lee and Reece Marcano will renew their rivalry for the men’s crown. Last year, Lee, the Shuttle Force player, prevailed; however, Marcano, who entered this tournament as the number one seed, will be looking for revenge. Both men had convincing journeys to the final yesterday. Lee defeated Zion St Rose 21-19, 21-14 in his semifinal encounter, while Marcano stopped fourth-seed Mikael Joachim 21-11, 21-13.
Coincidentally, the two rivals have joined forces in the men’s doubles and are into the finals following a 21-19, 19-21, 21-9 triumph over the team of Vance Juteram and Aditya Maharaj in the semifinals. That victory has put them on a collision course with the combined team of Nathaniel Khilawan and Zion St Rose, who defeated Jason Ramjass and Travis Sinanan 24-26, 21-13, 21-18 in their semifinal contest.
Meanwhile, the Urguhart sisters, Amara and Aliyah, progressed to the women’s doubles final at the expense of the pair of the Barnes sisters, Danyelle and T’Shelle, by prevailing 21-14, 21-15. They will face the pair of De Boulet and Isabelle Waller, who clobbered the team of Kenise Gangoo and Tenniya Tobias in the other semifinal matchup 21-7, 21-13.
