分类： sports

In a stunning opening to his 2026 athletic season, Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Jereem “The Dream” Richards delivered a spectacular performance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on January 24. The world-class athlete claimed gold in a nail-biting 300-meter final that saw him edge out American track superstar Noah Lyles by the narrowest of margins.

The highly anticipated four-man race unfolded at The Track in Boston, Massachusetts, where Richards demonstrated exceptional acceleration and strategic pacing across the shortened distance. Clocking an impressive 32.14 seconds, the Trinidadian sprinter showcased his championship mentality by maintaining his composure against the heavily favored Lyles, who finished a mere hundredth of a second behind at 32.15 seconds.

This victory carries particular significance as Richards managed to outperform the reigning Olympic 100-meter champion and eight-time world champion, signaling a potentially transformative season for the Caribbean athlete. The race dynamics revealed Richards’ tactical brilliance as he matched Lyles stride for stride before implementing a decisive finishing kick that secured his golden moment.

Completing the podium, American veteran Vernon Norwood captured bronze with a personal best of 32.38 seconds in the 300-meter event, demonstrating the depth of competition at the elite indoor meet.

In complementary success for Trinidad and Tobago, female sprinter Leah Bertrand commenced her competitive season with a bronze medal performance in the women’s 60-meter final. Bertrand clocked a respectable 7.32 seconds, finishing behind British champion Dina Asher-Smith (7.08s) and Jamaican silver medalist Brianna Listen (7.11s). The dual podium appearances mark a promising start for Trinidad and Tobago’s track and field program in the new season.

In a dramatic TT Premier Football League showdown on January 21, MIC Central FC mounted a resilient comeback to hold league leaders Defence Force to a 2-2 draw at Phase 2 La Horquetta Recreation Grounds. The match, a rescheduled fixture between last season’s runners-up and defending champions, delivered intense action and strategic gameplay.

Defence Force appeared poised to extend their dominance after securing a 1-0 victory in the teams’ previous encounter on January 17 at Dwight Yorke Stadium, where central defender Shirwin Noel’s spectacular strike decided the outcome.

The Army/Coast Guard combination established early control with winger Tyrese Bailey opening the scoring in the 17th minute. Central FC responded with determination as defender Alvin Jones leveled the score in the 35th minute, marking his inaugural goal of the season. Bailey restored Defence Force’s advantage just before halftime, capitalizing on stoppage time to complete his brace and establish a 2-1 lead.

The second half saw Defence Force pressing to widen their table lead, but Central FC’s persistence paid dividends when veteran striker Kadeem Corbin delivered the decisive blow in the 76th minute. Corbin’s clinical finish secured a valuable point for his team and prevented Defence Force from creating a five-point cushion at the summit.

In the accompanying La Horquetta double-header, 1976 FC Phoenix replicated their previous success against Caledonia AIA with another 2-0 victory. Javon Williams broke the deadlock in the 20th minute before midfielder Ammari Alleyne sealed the result with a 52nd-minute strike. This fourth triumph of the campaign propelled Phoenix from tenth to ninth position in the twelve-team standings.

The draw leaves Defence Force atop the table with 33 points from 13 matches, maintaining a three-point advantage over second-place Club Sando (30 points), while Police FC occupies third position with 27 points. Central FC remains in sixth place with 18 points, demonstrating their capacity to challenge the league’s elite teams.

The Eastern Regional Indoor Sport Arena in Tacarigua witnessed exceptional athletic performances this week as Holy Name Convent and St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain (SJCPoS) delivered commanding displays in the Secondary Schools Volleyball League competitions.

In Wednesday’s Under-17 division matches, SJCPoS demonstrated remarkable consistency with consecutive straight-set victories. The team first overcame Tunapuna Secondary with scores of 25-17 and 25-19, immediately followed by a dominant performance against ASJA Girls’ College Charlieville, securing a 25-19, 25-6 win. Tunapuna Secondary managed to rebound from their earlier defeat by claiming a hard-fought victory against ASJA College at 25-17, 25-21.

The previous day featured equally impressive Under-15 category action, with Holy Name Convent achieving a remarkable triple victory sweep. Their campaign began with a decisive win against Naparima Girls’ High School (25-7, 25-17), followed by a thrilling comeback victory over Holy Faith Convent Couva. After dropping the first set 22-25, Holy Name mounted a strong recovery to take the subsequent sets 25-16 and 15-9. They concluded their successful run with a comprehensive defeat of St Augustine Girls’ High School at 25-15, 25-6.

Naparima Girls’ High School also enjoyed competitive success, securing two victories against St Augustine (25-15, 25-20) and Holy Faith Convent (25-19, 25-23). Holy Faith Convent found consolation in their final match, defeating St Augustine 25-12, 25-21 to conclude the day’s proceedings.

The league action was scheduled to continue at Pleasantville Indoor Sporting Arena with boys’ Under-17 matches on January 23rd, maintaining the momentum of this exciting school volleyball tournament.

The West Indies Under-19 cricket team is poised to commence their Super Six stage campaign at the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 with a critical match against Ireland in Windhoek, Namibia. Scheduled for January 25 at 3:30 AM Trinidad and Tobago time, this encounter marks the first of two decisive Super Six fixtures for the Caribbean squad.

Having secured their advancement through a impressive 55-run victory over South Africa on January 22, the West Indies finished second in their preliminary group with four points from two victories and one defeat. Their group stage performance included triumphs against Tanzania and South Africa, with their sole loss coming against Afghanistan.

The Super Six phase features twelve qualifying teams: West Indies, Afghanistan, South Africa, England, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. Notably, all points, wins, and net run-rate statistics from the group matches carry forward into this decisive stage.

Ireland’s path to the Super Six saw mixed results, with a victory against Japan offset by losses to Australia and Sri Lanka during the group phase. The West Indies must overcome the Irish challenge and deliver an exceptional performance against defending champions Australia on January 28 to secure a coveted semi-final berth.

Historical context adds significance to the upcoming matches: the West Indies claimed the U-19 World Cup title in 2016, while Australia boasts four championships (1988, 2002, 2010, and 2024), establishing them as the most successful team in the tournament’s history.

Trinidad and Tobago’s accomplished hockey official Ayanna McClean has earned selection as one of the premier umpires for the upcoming 2026 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World Cup. The global tournament will be hosted across Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15-30, 2026, bringing together the world’s elite hockey nations.

The FIH unveiled its complete roster of officiating personnel on January 20 following rigorous evaluation by its technical officials and umpiring committees. These selection panels were led respectively by Sheila Brown and Peter Elders, who identified the most qualified international officials for the prestigious event.

McClean’s appointment marks her third consecutive World Cup assignment, building upon her previous officiating roles at the 2018 London edition and the 2022 tournament jointly hosted by Spain and the Netherlands. Among the 52 primary officials and 10 reserve umpires named, McClean stands as one of just 32 selected field umpires who will oversee the tournament’s matches.

The officiating contingent represents remarkable international diversity, with professionals from 22 different nations scheduled to work across the championship venues in Wavre, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

In recognition of her achievement, the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board issued an official commendation through social media channels on January 21. The organization highlighted McClean’s consistent excellence and professional representation of Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage, noting her demonstrated “excellence, professionalism and pride” throughout her World Cup appearances since 2018.

The hockey board’s statement further emphasized their pride in McClean’s continued contributions to the sport’s global development, celebrating her prestigious appointment as evidence of Trinidad and Tobago’s growing influence in international hockey officiating.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Premiership I League kicks off its 2026 campaign with defending champions Central Sports beginning their pursuit of a historic third consecutive title. The opening round features Central Sports facing Prisons at Invaders Recreation Ground in Felicity on January 24.

Central Sports enter the season with dominant momentum, having secured back-to-back championships in the two-day format competition. However, the reigning champions will commence their title defense without key contributor Kamil Pooran, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force opening batsman who has transferred to last season’s runners-up, Bess Motors Marchin Patriots. Pooran’s departure represents a significant roster change for the defending champions.

The league’s opening fixtures present several compelling matchups: Marchin Patriots debut their new signing against Yorkshire at Cunjal Recreation Grounds, while Queen’s Park Cricket Club confront Merryboys at Diego Martin Sporting Complex. Southern teams Victoria Sport and Clarke Road clash in Barrackpore, and Preysal hosts PowerGen in another premier division contest.

Adding innovation to the 2026 season, the TTCB has introduced a new mid-week 30-over competition scheduled to commence on February 3, providing additional competitive opportunities for participating teams across both Premiership divisions.

The complete opening round fixture list includes matches across Premiership I and II divisions, with North and South sections of Premiership II featuring contests including QPCC II versus Police at Queen’s Park Oval, Endeavour against Cosmos at Endeavour grounds, and several other regional rivalries.