分类： sports

The 2025 UWI International Half Marathon, held on October 26 in St. Augustine, witnessed remarkable performances from distance runners Alex Ekesa and Aniqah Bailey, who clinched the overall men’s and women’s titles, respectively. Ekesa, representing the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners Club, secured his first-ever UWI Half-Marathon victory with an impressive time of 1:08.33 over the 21.1-kilometer course. Bailey, from Pace and Performance Factory, crossed the finish line in 1:30.36, marking a significant improvement from her fourth-place finish in 2024. Both athletes showcased their dedication by surpassing their previous year’s performances. In the men’s division, Tafari Waldron of UTT Patriots claimed second place with a time of 1:08.58, while Nicholas Romany of TTRRC secured third in 1:11.06. The women’s category saw Alexia John of Pacelink Elite finish second in 1:33.09, followed by Samantha Shukla of TTRRC in third with 1:33.33. The event also highlighted team achievements, with Ekesa, Romany, and Donnell Francis leading TTRRC to the overall team prize. Additionally, the 5K race featured standout performances from unattached runners Kerry McLaren, Zidan Hamid, and Triston Bessor in the men’s category, while Praveen Ramdeo, Reeta Mathai, and Ziya Hosein Livingstone dominated the women’s division. The marathon underscored the growing talent and competitive spirit in long-distance running.

In a decisive outcome at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) annual general meeting (AGM) held on October 25 at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, Stephen Ramkissoon successfully retained his position as treasurer. Ramkissoon, who assumed the role earlier this year following the removal of his predecessor Kiswah Chaitoo, secured a 29-12 victory over Central Sports owner Richard Ramkissoon. The AGM also saw Kerwin John, head of the Tobago Cricket Association, re-elected as second vice-president with a 27-13 win over Rajendra Mangalie. Avinash Suruj of Central Zone was elected third vice-president, defeating Parasram Singh 29-12. Five new members—Ravi Teeluck, Anand Rampersad, Ann Brown John, Frank Simmons, and Mitra Ragoonanan—joined the executive with membership status, while Sharaz Mohammed fell short with only ten votes. Azim Bassarath, TTCB president since 2009, retained his position uncontested, marking his sixth consecutive term. However, due to recent amendments limiting presidents to two successive four-year terms, this is likely his final term. Altaf Baksh and Henry Chase were also elected unopposed as first vice-president and general secretary, respectively. Ammar Samaroo, TTCB elections committee secretary, confirmed the voting process was seamless, with no issues reported.

The West Indies cricket team secured a commanding 1-0 lead in their three-match T20 series against Bangladesh with a hard-fought 16-run victory in the opening game on October 27 in Chattogram. Opting to bat first, the West Indies openers, Alick Athanaze and Brandon King, laid a solid foundation with a 59-run partnership. However, their progress was cautious, with boundaries proving elusive. Athanaze departed for 34 off 27 balls, followed by King for 33 off 36 deliveries, leaving the team at 82/3 by the 13th over. Captain Shai Hope and former skipper Rovman Powell then took charge, accelerating the innings with a flurry of boundaries. Their unbeaten partnership of 83 runs propelled the West Indies to a competitive total of 165/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Hope finished with 46 not out, while Powell remained unbeaten on 44. Taskin Ahmed was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, claiming 2/36. In reply, Bangladesh started aggressively but lost early wickets, including Tanzid Hasan and captain Litton Das. Despite a valiant effort from Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who scored 33 off 27 balls, Bangladesh faltered, bowled out for 149 in 19.4 overs. The West Indies’ bowling attack, led by Jason Holder (3/31) and Jayden Seales (3/32), proved decisive. Akeal Hosein also contributed with 2/22. The second match of the series is scheduled for October 29.

Trinidad and Tobago’s cycling sensation Nicholas Paul narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the 2025 Track World Championships in Santiago, Chile, on October 26. Paul, who had previously secured silver medals in the 2021 and 2023 editions, finished fourth in the men’s sprint event, marking a disappointing end to the nation’s campaign. This year’s result contrasts sharply with the past two championships, where Paul had been a standout performer. Ranked fourth in the International Cycling Union’s individual sprint standings, Paul faced Dutch speedster Harrie Lavreysen in the semi-finals. Despite a valiant effort, Paul was outclassed by Lavreysen, who went on to claim gold in the final. In the bronze-medal race, Paul faced Australian Leigh Hoffman. Although Paul briefly took the lead in the first race, Hoffman’s resilience in the sprint lane secured him the bronze. The second race saw Hoffman dominate, leaving Paul without a medal. The championships also saw mixed results for other Trinidad and Tobago cyclists. Makaira Wallace, making her World Championships debut in the women’s keirin, failed to advance beyond the first round. Akil Campbell finished 16th in the men’s elimination race, while his sister Teniel did not complete the women’s points race. Despite the setbacks, Paul’s performance in the keirin and 1km time trial, along with the participation of veteran Njisane Phillip, highlighted Trinidad and Tobago’s presence on the global stage.

Trinidad and Tobago’s premier youth football academies and clubs are preparing to showcase their talent against Caribbean rivals at the NLCL Nation’s Cup – International Holiday Fun Festival. Scheduled to take place from December 19 to 21 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, this event promises to be a thrilling showcase of young footballing talent. The tournament will feature competitions in four age categories: Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15, with participants vying for cash prizes, trophies, and medals. Organized by the Next Level Foundation, the event builds on the success of previous NLCL Community Cup tournaments. Bermudez Biscuit Company’s Dixiee returns as an official sponsor, alongside key supporters such as Next Level Consulting Ltd, Agostini Ltd, Point Lisas Nitrogen Ltd, and First Citizens. Notable youth clubs like City FC, Cox Coaching School, Creek Sports & Cultural Club, Dunstan Williams Soccer Academy, and Union Hall United have already confirmed their participation. Beyond the matches, attendees can enjoy live performances, DJs, a Family Fun Zone, and complimentary samples from vendors. Brian K Jordan, foundation chairman, emphasized the event’s focus on community engagement and youth development. Germaine Jordan, tournament chairperson, encouraged additional sponsors and teams to join, highlighting the importance of investing in young footballers. For further details, interested parties can visit NLCL Community Cup’s social media pages or contact the organizers directly.

Stephen Ramkissoon has successfully retained his position as treasurer of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) following the organization’s annual general meeting (AGM) and elections held on October 25 at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva. Ramkissoon, who assumed the role earlier this year after his predecessor Kiswah Chaitoo was ousted in a motion of no confidence, will now serve a full four-year term. He secured the position with a decisive 29-12 victory over Central Sports owner Richard Ramkissoon, who is no relation. The elections also saw Kerwin John, head of the Tobago Cricket Association, retain his role as second vice-president after defeating Rajendra Mangalie 27-13. Additionally, Avinash Suruj of the Central Zone was elected third vice-president, outpacing veteran administrator Parasram Singh 29-12. Five new members—Ravi Teeluck, Anand Rampersad, Ann Brown John, Frank Simmons, and Mitra Ragoonanan—joined the executive with membership status, while Sharaz Mohammed of the Secondary Schools Cricket League fell short with only ten votes. Azim Bassarath, who has led the TTCB since 2009, retained his presidency uncontested. However, this marks his final term due to recently amended term limits. Altaf Baksh and Henry Chase were also elected unopposed as first vice-president and general secretary, respectively. Ammar Samaroo, secretary of the TTCB elections committee, confirmed the process was seamless, stating, ‘Everything went extremely smoothly and according to plan.’

The Trinidad and Tobago (TT) senior women’s football team is gearing up for a pivotal friendly match against Jamaica on October 28 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Veteran forward Kennya “Yaya” Cordner will once again lead the team as captain, a decision confirmed by newly appointed co-head coach Damian Briggs during a pre-match press conference on October 27. Cordner’s return to the national team brings much-needed leadership and experience to a squad that has been largely inactive over the past year. Briggs emphasized her role as a mentor and communicator, both on and off the pitch, highlighting her ability to motivate the team during challenging times. The match against Jamaica serves as a critical benchmark for the TT women’s team as they prepare for the upcoming Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifiers, set to begin on November 30 against Barbados. Briggs, who shares coaching responsibilities with former Soca Warriors midfielder Densill Theobald, expressed optimism about the team’s progress despite a short preparation window of just three weeks. The coaching duo has focused on building team chemistry, structure, and belief, aiming to deliver competitive and attractive football. With only three foreign-based players in the current squad, the match will also provide an opportunity to evaluate local talent. Briggs acknowledged the challenges posed by Jamaica’s match-ready squad but remains confident in the team’s work ethic and determination. The friendly marks the start of a new chapter for TT women’s football, with Briggs and Theobald committed to helping the team achieve its goals. Kick-off is scheduled for 8 pm, with gates opening at 6 pm and admission priced at $60.