Injury ends Badrinauth's quest for Jamaica Open title
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
July 14, 2004
National men's squash champion Shawn Badrinauth's winning streak came to an abrupt end on Sunday when he lost by default in the men's final of the Milex Liguanea Jamaica Open Squash Championships.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday, Badrinauth said his default defeat to Jamaica's James Bullock came in the third game of the men's final. At that time, Bullock was leading 2-0 in games and 5-2 during the third game.
Badrinauth said during his semi-final match against eight-time Jamaican champion Wayne Burrowes, he received a blow to his right calf during the crucial match-deciding fifth game. Both players were locked 2-2 going into the fifth game.
"I went into the final against Bullock in pain and it was too much for me in the third game so I had to retire. I was assisted off the court by Bullock and later taken to a hospital where a doctor ordered me to take a two-week rest from the game," Badrinauth said.
He said Burrowes's racquet hit him on the calf as he was attempting to play a return stroke. "The injury did not act up until the next day even though I put ice on the spot the same night and the next morning," the three-time national champion explained.
Badrinauth had defeated Burrowes 9-5, 9-6, 3-9, 4-9, 9-3 to secure a spot in the final.
Badrinauth said in his semi-final match, Burrowes played really well and he had to work him around the court and force him to make mistakes.
Badrinauth said the final was attended by a large crowd and the fans were all looking forward to an exciting match but they were disappointed when he defaulted.
Asked if he were not injured what might have been the outcome of the match, Badrinauth said: "I don't know but it would have been a close match."
Badrinauth will now focus his attention on the Southern Caribbean Championships which Guyana will host in August. He said if he feels better after a week's rest, he will return to training. But even if he had to take the full two weeks' rest, he said it would not throw him back from his preparation for the Southern Caribbean championships.
Meanwhile, Badrinauth expressed sincere condolences to the wife, children, relatives and friends of the late Dr Walter Chin who passed away recently. He said Dr Chin, who was a member of the Georgetown Club where he trains, was an inspiration to him.
The three-time Barbados Open champion also wished the national junior team success at the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships, which gets underway in the Cayman Islands on Friday. "I wish them luck and I hope they retain their titles."