Mixed start for Ja at Pan Am Games

Squash players Chris Binnie and Clive Walters got Jamaica’s gold hunt at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, under way yesterday with victory in the men’s double.

Binnie and Walters beat the Guatemalan pair of Josue Enriquez and Alejandro Enriquez 2-1 in a spirited contest.

The Jamaicans squeezed past the Central Americans 11-10 in game one before they were beaten comprehensive, 11-5, in the second game. However, they showed courage and rallied in game three with a 11-5 win to qualify for the quarterfinal round, where they will compete today at 10:30 a.m.

In the men’s singles, Anthony Burrowes was beaten three games to one (3-1) by Nicolas Pinto from Chile, while Binnie was scheduled to face Maximiliano Camiruaga at 7:45 p.m. last night.

Burrowes won game one 11-7 but was beaten consecutively 11-5, 11-3, and 11-6 in the other games.

The quarterfinal round of the men’s singles will be contested at 8 a.m.

After the opening ceremony, the Rugby Seven team will take on Argentina at 12:45 p.m. in their first of three first-round games today. Their second game will be against Canada at 12:40 p.m. tomorrow before closing out the group against Uruguay at 4:30 p.m. in the evening session on the same day.

Team Jamaica is down to participate in a record 19 disciplines, with first-time appearances in judo and karate being among the sports in which the island will be represented.

The team is not only the largest contingent to leave the island for the Games, but it also features some of the country’s most accomplished athletes.

The athletics team comprises Olympic Gold medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson, among other strong competitors, while the historic Reggae Girlz team, fresh off their participation in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France last month, will also represent Jamaica at the Games.