分类： sports

Renowned coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa, celebrated for guiding Keshorn Walcott to Olympic and World Championship javelin glory, is now sharing his expertise with coaches and physical education teachers in Trinidad and Tobago. The Throws Coaching Workshop, organized by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago’s (SporTT) elite athlete wellbeing unit, aims to enhance local coaching capabilities in track and field throwing events. The three-part workshop, which commenced on September 28, focuses on the four primary throwing disciplines: discus, javelin, shot put, and hammer. Over 30 participants are gaining both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to nurture the next generation of athletes, particularly those aged 12-14. The first session delved into the fundamentals of coaching throws, from technique to training design. On October 4, the workshop transitioned to the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field for its inaugural practical session, where attendees applied their classroom learnings. Mastrapa, SporTT’s lead athlete coach development officer, emphasized the importance of equipping coaches with the tools to inspire young talent. His coaching legacy includes Walcott’s historic gold at the 2012 London Olympics, bronze at the 2016 Rio Games, and a gold medal at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. The final session is scheduled for October 11, marking the culmination of this transformative initiative.

The RBC Royal Slam College Basketball Tournament continues its thrilling journey into its second weekend, with action-packed games scheduled at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua starting October 11. The tournament, a collaborative effort between Next Level Performance TT and the TT Schools Basketball Association, has already delivered high-octane performances and nail-biting finishes.

On October 11, the spotlight will be on two compelling matchups. At 4 pm, Presentation College (San Fernando), a dominant force from the south, will clash with St Anthony’s College from the north. This will be followed at 5 pm by an intense battle between Queen’s Royal College and St Francis College. The excitement doesn’t end there, as St Francis College will return to the court on October 12 at 4 pm to face Fatima College, a team that made a spectacular debut in the tournament on October 5 with a resounding 118-72 victory over Holy Cross College. Fatima’s dynamic duo, Idriis Martin (26 points, seven steals) and Zachary Julien (25 points, eight steals), were instrumental in their dominant performance.

The opening weekend also saw a thrilling encounter between Presentation College and St Mary’s College, where Presentation narrowly lost 94-91 despite an outstanding individual effort from Michael McCarthy, who scored 42 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.

The Royal Slam Tournament features seven competitive teams: Fatima College, Holy Cross College, Presentation College (San Fernando), Queen’s Royal College, St Anthony’s College, St Francis College, and St Mary’s College. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more exhilarating basketball action and fierce competition.

Trinidad and Tobago’s under-17 men’s and women’s football teams are set to embark on their respective journeys toward the 2026 Concacaf Under-17 World Cup qualifiers, with both teams placed in pot two for the upcoming draws. The women’s draw is scheduled for October 15, followed by the men’s draw on October 21, marking the beginning of their campaigns early next year. The women’s qualifiers will kick off on January 24, 2026, with 30 Concacaf member associations divided into six groups for round-robin matches. The top six group winners and two best second-placed teams will advance to the final round, joining the top-ranked teams: Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Matches will be hosted across Aruba, Bermuda, Curacao, and Nicaragua. Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s team, placed in pot two alongside Bermuda, Cuba, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Nicaragua, aim for a favorable draw to secure a spot in the youth World Cup in Morocco. Their previous campaign in the 2025 qualifiers saw them finish at the bottom of their group, which included El Salvador, Honduras, and the US. On the men’s side, the qualifiers will adopt a new format, with 34 teams split into eight groups for a single round of matches from February 3-12, 2026. The eight group winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup. Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s team, placed in pot two with Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico, will look to improve on their previous performance, where they narrowly missed qualification after a loss to Costa Rica in the final group match. The qualifiers will be held in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago’s top gymnasts are gearing up for a high-stakes competition as the TT Gymnastics Federation organizes the Carifta 2025 TT team trials. Scheduled for October 11 and 12 at the National Cycling Centre in Couva, the event will serve as a critical selection process for the national team. Action kicks off at 9 am on October 11 and resumes at 10 am on October 12. The trials are particularly significant as they will be held at the same venue that will host the 2025 Carifta Gymnastics Championships in December, providing athletes with a valuable rehearsal opportunity. The championships will see regional competitors vying for supremacy against TT’s finest. The TT team is looking to replicate their stellar performance from the inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Championships in 2024, where they dominated with an impressive haul of 80 gold, 57 silver, and 26 bronze medals, securing the overall title. The first edition of the games was held in Kingston, Jamaica, last year. Prominent clubs such as Tots and Tumblers, Thema Williams Athletic Academy, Olympia Gymnastics Club, and Lee’s Gymnastics Club are expected to field athletes in the trials, showcasing the depth of talent in the nation’s gymnastics community.

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division is witnessing intense competition as reigning champions Fatima College (19 points) prepare to defend their narrow one-point lead at the top of the 2025 table. On October 11, they will face Queen’s Royal College (QRC), their north zone rivals, in a highly anticipated match at Mucurapo Road. This clash is a rematch of last season’s north zone intercol final, where Fatima emerged victorious in a penalty shootout. All eight premier division matches are scheduled to kick off at 3:30 pm.

Kieron Edwards, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), has been appointed to FIFA’s Development Committee for the 2025-2029 term. This significant appointment was confirmed during a FIFA Council meeting on October 2, with the TTFA officially announcing the news on October 9. The FIFA Development Committee plays a crucial role in advising and supporting the FIFA Council on global football development strategies, including infrastructure projects, grassroots initiatives, and capacity-building efforts across member associations. Edwards’ appointment marks a notable achievement for Trinidad and Tobago’s football leadership on the international stage. Additionally, Roxanne Herbert, another Trinidadian official, was appointed to the FIFA Beach Soccer Committee. These appointments were part of a broader selection process involving FIFA’s 211 member associations and six confederations. Edwards, who was elected TTFA President in April 2024, expressed his honor at the appointment, emphasizing its significance for both his personal career and Trinidad and Tobago’s football development. He pledged to contribute meaningfully to global football discussions while ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago benefits from FIFA’s policies and programs. The TTFA congratulated Edwards on his prestigious appointment and expressed optimism about strengthening ties with FIFA and its member associations.

The Trinidad and Tobago Powerlifting Federation (TTPF) has unveiled a formidable ten-member squad to compete at the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Regional Bench Press Championships in Panama City, Panama, from October 22-25. The team, announced via an Instagram post on October 7, features a mix of seasoned athletes and rising stars, all poised to make their mark on the international stage. Among the standout competitors are Deresay Alleyne and Kezia Hunte, both of whom have already proven their mettle at the NAPF/Pan Am Regional Championships held in the Cayman Islands earlier this year. Hunte clinched gold in the 76kg open category, while Alleyne secured silver in the 84kg open division. Alleyne further cemented her reputation by claiming the overall female title at the National Bench Press Championships in June. The team also includes Rondel Hunte, the overall male winner at the national championships, alongside a diverse group of athletes such as Sabir Abdul-Malick, Shay Grant, and Shaquille Nelson. Rounding out the squad are masters competitors Dale Hosten and Orion Williams, as well as junior athlete Keshav Maharaj. Leading the team as coach is Marlon Belfon, a veteran of the masters category, with Gabre McTair joining as a referee. The team’s participation follows a recent triumph by national champion Joseph McDonald, who set a new world junior record in the bench press category at the International Powerlifting Federation World Classic Junior Powerlifting Championships in September.

India continued their formidable performance in the second Test against the West Indies, establishing a commanding 378-run lead by the end of the second day at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Resuming their innings at 318 for two, India faced an early setback as opener Yashavi Jaiswal (175) was run out after adding just two runs to his overnight score. However, captain Shubman Gill (129 not out) anchored the innings with crucial partnerships, first with Nitish Reddy (43) and then with wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel (44 not out). Gill’s innings, adorned with 16 boundaries and two sixes, propelled India to a formidable total of 518 for five before declaring. The West Indies struggled to counter India’s dominance, ending the day at 140 for four. Ravindra Jadeja (three for 37) was instrumental in dismantling the visitors’ top order, while Shai Hope (31 not out) and Tevin Imlach (14 not out) provided some resistance. The Windies face an uphill battle to avoid the follow-on and stay competitive in the match. Day three begins on October 12, with India firmly in control.

While many individuals approaching their 70th birthday might choose to celebrate with a family gathering, an international trip, or an elaborate dinner, Dennise Demming has opted for a unique and inspiring way to mark this milestone. An enthusiastic runner for several decades, Demming will host a 7K race on November 16 at 6 am, starting at The Harvard Club near Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair. The route will encompass the Queen’s Park Savannah and Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook before returning to the starting point. Demming, a dedicated member of the TT Road Runners for over 20 years, has garnered significant support for the event, including from her son, Dr. Keita Demming, who is traveling from Canada to participate. The primary objective of the race is to encourage individuals to prioritize their health. Demming highlighted the concerning prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Trinidad, emphasizing the societal impact of poor physical fitness. She expressed her concern over the rising number of illnesses and deaths linked to lifestyle choices, which motivated her to organize this event. Demming also stressed that people often delay taking their health seriously, and she hopes to inspire at least 200 participants to join the race. The event is open to everyone, not just her family and friends. Reflecting on her own journey, Demming shared that at age 40, she realized her health was deteriorating and decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle, which led her to complete ten marathons over the years. She has also participated in marathons in Cuba and Canada. To make the event inclusive, Demming has arranged virtual races for friends in England, Canada, and Barbados, allowing them to participate simultaneously in their respective countries. Those interested in supporting Demming’s initiative can register at www.raceroster.com.