Badrinauth seeks sponsorship for Bermuda Open
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
February 14, 2004
National men's squash champion Shawn Badrinauth is seeking sponsorship to attend the Inaugural Bermuda Open Squash Championships billed for March 15-20.
According to Badrinauth, the air ticket to Bermuda costs US$1,135 and he must also pay a registration fee as well as boarding and lodging. Another Guyanese, Damien DaSilva, the Junior Caribbean Under-17 champion, is also expected to participate.
Badrinauth said he would not participate in the Open tournament, which has attracted some of the world's leading players, but would be a part of the Graded Champ-ionships which has also attracted players of all standards from around the world.
The Bermuda Open Badrinauth said, will be divided into four men's and three ladies categories. He will contest the Men's `A' category. DaSilva also hopes to contest the Men's `A' category. Among those expected to contest the same category are Bermudans Nick Kyne, James Stout and Gary Plumstead.
Badrinauth was beaten 3-2 by Kyne in the semi-final of the Senior Caribbean Champ-ionships last year in Barbados, losing the fifth game 5-9.
During the six days of the tournament, adult coaching clinics will be held free of cost for any player interested in bettering his/her game. These sessions will be conducted by world championships coaches Mike Way and Shawn Moxham.
Badrinauth said he is eager to attend the championship since it will serve as a learning experience for him.
"I want to go there to get the exposure and experience that is derived from witnessing Professional Squash Associa-tion (PSA) players in action and asking them questions," Badrinauth stated, adding "I would also be able to benefit from the coaching clinics."
Badrinauth said he could not improve his game here in Guyana so he has to get the type of exposure that will allow him to improve it.
"It's the only way we can get better and with Guyana hosting the Senior Caribbean Championships this year, my participation in the Bermuda Open will be a plus for our team and myself." According to a release from the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association (BSRA), the tournament which is being sponsored by Logic in association with Hewlett Packard has been sanctioned by the PSA as a Five-Star tournament with a total players' compensation of US$55,000.
The qualifying round matches will be played on March 15 and 16, while the main draw will be staged from March 17 to 20. The main draw will be contested between 16 players.
However, 11 of the 16 places have been allotted to the world's best, while one place will be reserved as a wild card entry. An additional four places will be chosen from the 16-man qualifying tournament. According to the release, the tournament will be televised through Fox Sport and other sports networks.
The qualifying matches will be played at the BSRA's courts while the main draw will be played on a specially imported all-glass court.