分类： sports

Trinidad and Tobago has spectacularly defended its title at the Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championships, demonstrating absolute dominance in the regional competition held at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva. The host nation’s 63-member squad achieved an extraordinary medal haul of 167 total medals—significantly surpassing their previous record—with 85 gold, 57 silver, and 25 bronze medals secured during the December 6-7 event.

Jamaica secured a distant second position with 71 medals (31 gold, 25 silver, 15 bronze), capturing less than half of TT’s total count. The Bahamas completed the top three with 44 medals overall, consisting of 8 gold, 11 silver, and 25 bronze.

The championship commenced with an opening ceremony addressed by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts, who emphasized the significance of TT hosting the second edition of the tournament. Minister Watts described the event as “a proud milestone for TT and for gymnastics in our region,” highlighting the growing confidence in Caribbean athletic federations within the international sports community.

Watts pointed to recent achievements in Caribbean gymnastics, notably national athlete Yandy Stafford’s Pan American gold medal, as evidence that regional competitors can excel globally with adequate support and opportunities. Beyond competitive results, the Minister stressed the championship’s role in promoting values such as balance, focus, respect, and perseverance among young athletes.

The government committed to enhancing elite development programs while expanding access to properly managed grassroots initiatives across communities. Recognition was given to TT Gymnastics Federation president Suzanne Babooram and her team for their extensive organizational efforts, alongside coaches, judges, medical staff, volunteers, and sponsors who contributed to the event’s success.

Minister Watts directly addressed participating athletes, encouraging spirited but fair competition and emphasizing the lasting friendships and lessons that extend beyond the podium. The championships concluded as a celebration of regional talent and sporting excellence, reinforcing Trinidad and Tobago’s leading position in Caribbean gymnastics.

The stage is set for an electrifying showdown in the Coca-Cola Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) girls’ national intercol final as Pleasantville Secondary seeks their second championship in three years. They will face east zone champions Five Rivers Secondary in the highly anticipated match scheduled for 3 pm on December 10 at Couva’s Ato Boldon Stadium. This contest will initiate a double-header event, culminating with the boys’ intercol finale between premier division champions Naparima College and Signal Hill Secondary at 5 pm.

Pleasantville enters the final as clear favorites, having demonstrated exceptional dominance throughout the tournament. Their path to the championship match included a decisive 5-0 semifinal victory over defending knockout champions St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain (SJCPoS) on December 6. The team showcased impressive offensive prowess with national player Nikita Gosine scoring twice, supported by additional goals from Zara Chase, Natalia Gosine, and Kaeley Martin. This victory provided redemption for Pleasantville, who suffered a penalty shootout defeat against SJCPoS in the previous year’s national intercol final.

Five Rivers Secondary arrives at the championship through determined defensive performances and strategic scoring. Their semifinal victory came via a narrow 1-0 win against Signal Hill, secured by an early first-half goal from national youth team standout Hackeemar Goodridge. This result simultaneously eliminated Signal Hill’s opportunity to achieve a national knockout double. Goodridge has emerged as Five Rivers’ key offensive weapon, having scored the decisive goal in the east zone final against San Juan North Secondary on November 26, followed by an impressive four-goal performance in the national quarterfinal against Holy Faith Convent Couva.

The final presents a classic tactical confrontation between Pleasantville’s explosive scoring capability—evidenced by their 5-0 victory over St Joseph’s Convent San Fernando in the south zone intercol final—and Five Rivers’ resilient defensive organization. This matchup promises to deliver compelling football as both teams pursue national glory.

In a landmark moment for Trinidad and Tobago sailing, Justin Bridgemohan concluded his inaugural appearance at the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships with a 24th-place finish in the inclusive one-person championship division. The historic event, held at the Mussanah Sailing School in Oman on December 8, marked the Caribbean nation’s first-ever representation in para-sailing at this elite international level.

Competing under the banner of the Andrew Lewis Sailing Foundation, Bridgemohan demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout nine challenging rounds, ultimately accumulating a net score of 59. His campaign began with an unfortunate disqualification in the opening race after his vessel made contact with a marker. Undeterred by this setback, the debutant sailor mounted an impressive comeback, achieving consistently strong placements of eighth, ninth, 11th, fifth, 11th, sixth, second, and seventh in subsequent races.

Notably, without the initial disqualification, statistical analysis indicates Bridgemohan would have secured a position within the championship’s top 20 competitors. This performance becomes even more extraordinary considering the athlete has only been sailing for three months through the Andrew Lewis Sailing Academy’s local training program.

Bridgemohan’s journey to international competition began through the mentorship of coach Kristoff Stuven, a former national sailor, who recognized his potential despite the athlete’s recent introduction to the sport. In a post-competition interview from Oman, Bridgemohan appealed for public support to sustain his developing career, identifying the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics as his ultimate objective.

The pioneering sailor extended gratitude to multiple supporters including TT Paralympics Committee president Sudhir Ramesar, coach Stuven for expedition coordination, mentor Andrew Lewis, trainer Yannick Along, his family, and the Trinidad and Tobago Yachting Association for advancing para-sailing initiatives.

The Cricket West Indies/TT Cricket Board Under-23 Cup makes its anticipated return on December 9 with a rescheduled second-round showdown between Soca Strikers Under-19 and Steelpan Titans at Balmain’s National Cricket Centre in Couva.

Originally slated for December 6, this critical match became the tournament’s third weather-related postponement in four scheduled games, highlighting the disruptive impact of seasonal rainfall on Caribbean cricket calendars.

Soca Strikers U19 enter the contest with formidable momentum following their dominant nine-wicket victory over Scarlet Blazers in the tournament opener – the only match thus far to reach a conclusive result. Their previous performance demonstrated exceptional all-round capabilities with both bat and ball.

During that opening match at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Blazers posted 190 all out in 41.2 overs, thanks primarily to Sachin Emrit’s unbeaten 50 and R Yearwood’s contribution of 39 runs. The bowling attack proved decisive as Brendan Boodoo delivered a spectacular performance, claiming 5/21, supported by Saleem Khan’s 2/37.

The chase became a masterclass in controlled batting as Khan remained undefeated with 107 runs from 109 deliveries, partnered by Aadi Ramsaran’s equally impressive 61 not out from 68 balls. Their unbeaten partnership guided Soca Strikers to a commanding 196/1 in just 36.2 overs.

Tournament scheduling continues to face challenges as the initial first-round match between Steelpan Titans and Cocrico Warriors suffered similar weather disruptions, with its December 6 rescheduling also falling victim to precipitation. The following day’s second-round encounter between Cocrico Warriors and Scarlet Blazers began but ultimately succumbed to weather after Blazers reached 177/2 in 33.2 overs, featuring half-centuries from Yearwood (54) and Rajeev Ramnath (51 not out).

Following the December 9 fixture, the tournament progresses immediately to third-round matches on December 10, featuring Titans versus Blazers at NCC and Strikers U19 confronting Warriors at Tarouba.

The TT Premier Football League witnessed significant upheaval during matchday seven as leading contenders failed to capitalize on critical opportunities to claim the top position. The December 7 double-header at Arima Velodrome produced unexpected results that dramatically reshaped the league standings.

Defending champions Defence Force delivered a spectacular second-half performance to overcome Club Sando 3-1. Despite Club Sando establishing an early advantage through Keron Cornwall’s 26th-minute strike, Defence Force mounted a stunning comeback with three unanswered goals in the final period. Elijah Seechan initiated the turnaround with a 61st-minute equalizer, followed by late goals from Joshua Araujo-Wilson (81st minute) and Caden Trestrail (87th minute) that secured victory for the reigning champions.

In the subsequent match, Prison Service FC squandered their opportunity to claim pole position after being held to a 2-2 draw by San Juan Jabloteh. Jabloteh established an early lead through Andell Fraser’s 25th-minute goal, but Prison Service responded with second-half strikes from Nahshon Simon (47th minute) and Ricardo John (72nd minute). Their advantage proved short-lived as Malachi Webb equalized just two minutes later to secure a valuable point for Jabloteh.

The surprising results propelled Miscellaneous Police FC to the summit of the table following their 1-0 victory over 1976 FC Phoenix at Dwight Yorke Stadium on December 6. Kadeem Hutchinson’s 88th-minute goal proved decisive in establishing Police’s narrow advantage.

Current league standings show Police FC and Prison Service FC tied at 16 points each, with Club Sando trailing closely behind at 15 points. The postponed matches between Caledonia vs AC Port of Spain and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Central FC Reboot will likely further influence the tightly contested championship race.

The Eddie Hart Savannah in Tacarigua witnessed a spectacular inauguration of the East West Corridor Football League on December 6, marking the commencement of an ambitious grassroots football initiative. Spearheaded by former Trinidad and Tobago national team captain David Nakhid—now serving as Senator and parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs—the league represents a strategic effort to revitalize community football through his David Nakhid Academy (DNA).

The opening match saw Wallerfield United secure a decisive 3-0 victory against FC Porto Arima. Revaldo Patrick emerged as the standout performer, netting two goals and earning the player of the match honor. Teammate Ronaldo Estick contributed the third goal, completing the dominant performance.

Government support was evident with several officials in attendance, including MP for St Augustine Khadijah Ameen, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge, and Minister in the Ministry of Housing Anil Roberts. The event also drew former national footballer Ron La Forest and entertainment figures such as soca artist Olatunji Yearwood, who expressed enthusiasm about potentially forming a team due to the substantial financial incentives.

The league features unprecedented prize money at the grassroots level, with $120,000 awarded to the champion team, $70,000 for second place, and $50,000 for third. Beyond monetary rewards, the tournament offers developmental opportunities, including planned scouting involvement from Spain and the United States, with an all-star team scheduled to travel to Spain post-tournament.

Organizer Travis Mulraine confirmed matches will continue across six regional divisions—east, northeast, north, central, south, and Tobago—with over 40 teams competing through May. The upcoming weekend will feature a full schedule of games across all zones on December 11, 13, and 14.

In one of Test cricket’s most remarkable fourth-innings performances, West Indies batsman Justin Greaves engineered an extraordinary comeback to secure an improbable draw against New Zealand at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. The dramatic turnaround unfolded on December 6th as Greaves, batting at number six, crafted an unbeaten 202 runs to defy New Zealand’s bowling attack and rescue his team from certain defeat.

The match situation appeared hopeless when Greaves joined Shai Hope at the crease with the scoreboard reading 72/4, chasing an insurmountable target of 531 runs. With over two sessions remaining on day four and the entire final day to survive, even the most optimistic Caribbean supporters had conceded defeat. However, what followed was a masterclass in determination and technical proficiency.

Hope provided crucial support with a magnificent 140 before his dismissal, but the real drama unfolded through Greaves’ partnership with unlikely hero Kemar Roach. The 37-year-old fast bowler, possessing a Test batting average below 12, displayed unexpected resilience as he supported Greaves through the critical final stages. Their partnership transformed from mere resistance to genuine match-saving brilliance.

The match context made Greaves’ achievement particularly significant. West Indies had won the toss and elected to bowl first on a moisture-laden pitch that initially favored seam movement. New Zealand posted 231 in their first innings, with the visitors struggling to 167 in response. The Black Caps then dominated the second innings with Rachin Ravindra (176) and captain Tom Latham (145) building what appeared to be an impregnable position.

Greaves’ innings marked him as only the seventh West Indian batsman to score a double-century in a Test match’s fourth innings. His performance demonstrated both sensible shot selection and growing self-assurance, particularly impressive given his recent inconsistent form. The Barbadian right-hander tempered his natural stroke-play with disciplined defense and selective aggression, showcasing the technical adaptability required for Test cricket’s varying conditions.

The drawn result represents a significant moral victory for West Indies, whose Test performances in recent years have frequently drawn criticism. This display of character and resilience against one of world cricket’s strongest home teams suggests promising development within the squad. Greaves’ historic innings, supported by Hope’s consistency and Roach’s determination, provides a blueprint for future success and reinforces the timeless cricket adage about the game’s “glorious uncertainties.”