MAKEDA BAIN will begin her quest for a second straight Central America and The Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC) 14 and under title when the Trinity Cup Junior Tournament serves off today at the National Racquet Centre, Orange Grove Main Road, Tacarigua.
The 12-year-old, who retained both her singles and doubles titles in the Barbados the Barbados International Under-14 Tournament two days ago. spearheads a list of 22 entrants from the host country in the category.
Eight of them are girls, including “Barbados” singles runner-up Cyra Ramcharan, her younger sister Suri and doubles runner-up Cherdine Sylvester.
All nine T&T boys who qualified for the main draw in Barbados – Josiah Hills, Christopher Khan, Jaysean Wells, Oliver Harrigan, Novak Malcolm, Jaiden Gormandy, Jacob Jacelon, Jack Brown and Justin Duncan – are among the 14 boys, along with Dillon Clifford and Luke Bellamy, who ended up in the consolation draw.
Brown and Khan reached the semi-finals in Barbados and the latter and singles runner-up Zane Kirton of Barbados were nosed out 5-7. 6-3, 12/10 in the doubles final by Harrigan and singles champ of Mateo Gutierrez.
The player from El Salvador, who also won the singles title, is No. 1 in COTECC, but the field also includes three others in the top ten – Hills (No. 3), Kirton (No. 5) and Khan (No. 7).
This country’s other male entrants are Sebastian Plimmer, Fabian Dates, Sanjay Ramcharitar and Rohan Ramcharitar.
They did not travel to Barbados, nor did this country’s other girls – Karissa Mohammed, Samiyah Mohammed, Ysanne Williams and Keyah Roberts.
Bain is the overwhelming favourite, but her doubles partner in the Barbados tournament, Cybelle Ferrier of Suriname (No. 8), and Cyra (No. 9) are also in the top ten in COTECC, and Sylvester is just two places outside double dights.
There will also be action in the 12 and under age-group and, following two days of round-robin group action, the knockout draws will serve off Monday.
