分类： sports

In a dramatic opening match of the 2026 Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze tournament, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas suffered a narrow three-wicket defeat against Barbados at Arnos Vale Playing Field in St. Vincent on January 13. The low-scoring thriller culminated with Barbados reaching their target of 98 runs with nine deliveries remaining, despite a formidable bowling performance from TT’s spin attack.

The TT women’s batting lineup struggled throughout their innings, managing just 97 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Veteran batter Britney Cooper provided stability with an unbeaten 33 runs from 36 deliveries, while captain Karishma Ramharack contributed 21 not out from 23 balls. Barbados opening bowler Naijanni Cumberbatch emerged as the bowling standout with impressive figures of 2/18.

Barbados faced early pressure when TT leg-spinner Brianna Harricharan delivered a spectacular spell, claiming three wickets for just eight runs and reducing the Bajans to 68/6 by the 15th over. The match seemed poised for a TT victory until all-rounder Shamilia Connell displayed remarkable composure under pressure. Known primarily for her bowling, Connell smashed 16 not out from just ten deliveries, including the match-winning boundary off medium-pacer Amrita Ramtahal that sealed the victory.

The tournament opener sets the stage for an competitive series, with TT scheduled to face Windwards in their second match on January 15. In other opening day results, Guyana secured a seven-run victory against Windwards in another low-scoring affair, while Leewards Islands claimed a nine-run win over Jamaica.

The 2026 Brechin Castle Golf Open concluded with spectacular fashion as new champions emerged across all divisions in Couva. The tournament, which commenced on January 9, witnessed remarkable comebacks and intense competition throughout its three-day duration.

Marcus Ling delivered the most impressive performance of the championship, staging a magnificent final-day recovery to secure the men’s title. After trailing behind overnight leader Liam Bryden, Ling demonstrated exceptional composure to card a steady 72, finishing with an aggregate score of 216. Bryden settled for runner-up position at 219, while the battle for third place required a countback decision that ultimately favored young Ross Ramkissoon over Alex Kangoo. Club veteran John Rampersad completed the top five with 224, simultaneously capturing the best net prize.

The women’s championship witnessed a generational shift as teenage sensation Isabella Ramdeen dethroned defending champion Victoria Seenath. Ramdeen’s final-round 78 secured her a winning total of 242, narrowly surpassing Seenath’s 244. Former titleholder Jada Charles claimed third position with 246, while promising newcomer Arianna Khan earned the best net trophy.

Nandlal Ramlakhan, the 2025 Brechin Castle Player of the Year, showcased his experience in the first flight division, overcoming overnight leader Asa Roopchand via countback after both golfers finished tied at 242. The host club demonstrated remarkable dominance as Amir Ali (243) and Kevesh Ramnath (248) completed a clean sweep of the top four positions.

The second flight competition saw Riaz Ali surge to victory with 170, edging out teenage contender Kaiden Baynes (172), while Kumar Boodram (176) and Navin Dookeran (177) secured third and fourth places respectively. Reid Sonnilal had previously been crowned third flight champion during the tournament’s second day.

Brechin Castle members have celebrated the event as a resounding success, marking the beginning of an action-packed 2026 schedule for Trinidad and Tobago’s golfing community. The tournament’s organization and competitive standard have set a positive precedent for upcoming championships in the region.

Queen’s Royal College (QRC), historically renowned for its cricket excellence in Trinidad’s north zone, is embarking on an ambitious rebuilding mission in the Secondary Schools Cricket League (SSCL) premier I division. After securing promotion by winning the 2025 north championship division, QRC now prepares to compete against defending champions Presentation College Chaguanas and six other elite schools when the 50-over tournament commences on January 20.

The institution boasts an impressive cricket heritage, having produced legendary West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray during the 1950s-60s era, followed by standout performer Shirvan Pragg in the 1970s-80s. More recently, the school developed talents including former West Indies Under-15 captain Zaheer Ali, ex-Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Justin Guillen, and current national player Navin Bidaisee.

Under the leadership of coach Calvin Phillip, QRC has initiated comprehensive reforms to revitalize its cricket program. Significant infrastructure improvements include upgraded practice nets on school grounds, while strategic partnerships with nearby TT Defence Force and The Harvard Coaching Clinic provide additional training facilities and pitch preparation support.

Phillip acknowledges the challenges in rebuilding interest among students, noting that football and athletics typically attract more participation. However, he reports growing enthusiasm among junior forms, stating: ‘This marks the initial phase of our rebuilding journey. We’re cultivating a nursery of players from forms one through three to ensure long-term continuity.’

Supported by team manager Curtis Roach and principal David Simon, the program demonstrates promising development. Phillip expresses confidence in his squad’s preparation and mentality: ‘The team possesses strong self-belief and our preparations have been well-organized. We aim to demonstrate that QRC remains committed to reclaiming its status among the nation’s top cricket programs.’

In a dramatic escalation of an ongoing sporting dispute, national cyclist Alexi Costa-Ramirez and her Heatwave Cycling Club have formally appealed a High Court decision that permitted the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF) to proceed with selection trials for the Pan American Track Cycling Championships. The appeal, filed on January 14, seeks to overturn Justice Westmin James’s January 13 ruling that denied an interim injunction against endurance trials scheduled for January 17.

The legal confrontation stems from broader proceedings involving multiple athletes—including Njisane Phillip and Makaira Wallace of JLD Cycling Academy—who are contesting the fairness of the federation’s selection methodology for February’s continental championships. The appellants assert the trial judge committed significant judicial errors by refusing to halt the selection process.

Central to their appeal is the challenge against the judge’s finding that certain claimants had submitted performance data without attending trials, and the determination that canceling trials would disproportionately harm the federation. Heatwave and Costa-Ramirez contend the TTCF bears an implied contractual duty to ensure equitable treatment of all athletes during selection.

They further argue that financial compensation cannot remedy the potential loss of competing at a prestigious event like the Pan American Championships—a critical qualifying pathway to the Olympic Games. The appeal emphasizes that proceeding with the trials could inflict irreversible damage on athletes’ careers during a pivotal moment in the Olympic cycle, while pausing them would not significantly disadvantage the federation.

As part of their requested relief, the appellants seek an order from the Court of Appeal to restrain the TTCF from conducting the January 17 endurance trials. They also request coverage of legal costs from both the appeal and prior proceedings. Given the time-sensitive nature of the selection process, the appellants plan to request an expedited hearing under Part 64.10 of the Civil Proceedings Rules.

The 2025/26 Norman Windball Cricket League quarterfinals delivered thrilling performances and decisive victories, headlined by reigning champions Acono Sauce’s commanding advance. On January 11 at Buggy Haynes recreation ground in Tacarigua, Acono Sauce delivered an emphatic 85-run triumph against Supersonic to secure their premier division semifinal berth.

Acono’s batting lineup demonstrated formidable power, amassing 148 for six within their allotted 12 overs. Opening batsman Hanuman Moonsammy spearheaded the charge with a explosive 63-run performance, receiving substantial support from Raj Persad (23), Sarvesh Dindial (21 not out), and Ariz Khan (17). Supersonic’s response proved inadequate as they struggled to 63 for seven, with only Christopher Calderon (16) and James Sooknarine (10) reaching double figures. Joshua Ramrattan’s bowling excellence (three for 15) effectively dismantled Supersonic’s batting order.

CSK mirrored this dominance with a crushing 68-run victory against More Fire International. Avian Mejias and Imtiaz Mohammed both contributed 24 runs to establish CSK’s total of 109 for five. More Fire’s batting collapsed spectacularly, managing merely 41 for eight against CSK’s relentless bowling attack led by Keron Noreiga’s impressive three for five figures.

The tournament witnessed contrasting contests as Big Drip Heavy Hitters edged Savannah Crew Sports by ten runs in a tense low-scoring encounter. Israel Mangaroo’s 35 runs propelled Heavy Hitters to 77 for seven, ultimately defending their total by restricting Savannah Crew to 67 for seven.

Minibar Reload secured their semifinal position with a 22-run win over Poison Sports. Kadeem Williams (34 not out) and Kapil Harry (22 not out) orchestrated a crucial 54-run partnership to set a competitive target of 82 for three. Poison Sports faltered at 60 for five, overwhelmed by Kyle Dookran’s extraordinary bowling performance of three for two from just two overs.

The competition’s best-of-the-rest bracket saw Knock Squad defeat Backyard Ballers by 31 runs on January 10, highlighted by Kelvin Danpatia’s spectacular six for 14 bowling figures. The tournament continues with best-of-the-rest semifinals scheduled for January 17-18, while premier division semifinals are set for January 25.

In a significant recognition of officiating excellence, Trinidad and Tobago has secured an unprecedented 14 appointments to the FIFA referees panel for 2026. The appointments, announced by FIFA on January 6, include assistant referee Caleb Wales, who previously demonstrated his expertise at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The distinguished roster features referees Timothy Derry, Cecile Hinds, Nikolai Nyron, Andrew Samuel, Crystal Sobers, Kwinsi Williams, and Nathalya Williams. They are joined by assistant referees Kirt Charles, Evelyn Carissa Douglas, Keron Myers, Melissa Nicholas, Shash Ramsaroop, and Ainsley Rochard. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) formally congratulated the officials through a media release on January 12.

TTFA President Kieron Edwards characterized this development as a pivotal moment for the nation’s football community. He emphasized that these appointments result from years of dedicated sacrifice, continuous development, and unwavering commitment to excellence rather than mere chance. Edwards noted that the officials have earned regional and international respect through their disciplined approach and thorough preparation.

The TTFA stated that these appointments not only reflect the consistency and professionalism of Trinidad and Tobago’s refereeing program but also reinforce the country’s reputation for producing officials capable of performing at the highest levels of international football. This achievement underscores the football body’s conviction that Trinidad and Tobago can produce world-class quality both on and off the field, with referees being considered essential components in the growth and development of the sport within the nation.