Carib Scope

分类： sports

  • Minister gives nod to sports tourism push

    Minister gives nod to sports tourism push

    A small Barbadian swimming organization pushing to address rising athlete burnout, elevate technical skill-building and establish the Caribbean island as a premier regional hub for sports tourism has secured formal endorsement from the country’s top sports official. New Wave Swim Club, headed by founder and lead coach Akilah Lashley, showcased its ambitious two-week summer development clinic during a recent visit from Minister of Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith at the Barbados Aquatic Centre in Wildey, St. Michael. During the event, the clinic’s 9 to 18-year-old participants – which include current national team swimmers and emerging youth talent – were formally introduced to visiting guest coach Kyle Dougan, who traveled to the island from neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Unlike traditional development models that require promising Barbadian swimmers to travel abroad to access elite coaching and competitive exposure, Lashley’s initiative flips this script by bringing top regional coaching talent directly to Barbados. She explained that the program is rooted in a broader sports tourism strategy designed to keep young athletes close to home during summer training while still connecting them to diverse coaching perspectives from across the Caribbean.

    “This gives New Wave and every other local swim club the chance to refine athlete technique without ever leaving the island,” Lashley said. “We get to learn from regional coaches with a wide range of experience and training philosophies, our swimmers get to stay home for the summer and enjoy their time off while still growing, and everyone gets exposure to different technical approaches that can lift their performance.”

    Lashley emphasized that the initiative is intentionally structured as a collaborative effort for the entire Barbadian swimming community, not just members of her own club. She noted that cross-cluster cooperation is key to raising the overall standard of competitive swimming across the country, and the clinic creates intentional space for coaches and athletes from different local organizations to connect and share knowledge.

    Barbados’ world-class aquatic facilities put the island in a unique position to become the go-to regional destination for swimming development, Lashley added, positioning the country to attract young swimmers from across the Caribbean for training camps and clinics in future iterations of the program.

    Minister Griffith lauded the grassroots project during his visit, framing it as a model that larger domestic sporting organizations should replicate to boost youth development and grow the island’s sports tourism sector. He pointed out that the initiative, led by one of Barbados’ smaller swim clubs, demonstrates what local organizations can achieve through regional collaboration, and that exposure to diverse coaching methodologies can only accelerate young athletes’ progress.

    “Any time we can bring in coaches from different neighboring jurisdictions to share new skills and innovative technical approaches with our up-and-coming swimmers, it’s a win for our entire sporting community,” Griffith said. “These young athletes are still building the foundation of their competitive careers, and opportunities to train with visiting experts give them tools that will serve them for years to come.”

    The minister also signaled that the Barbadian government is open to providing financial and logistical support for future editions of the clinic, with the goal of expanding the program to draw participants from across the Caribbean. Growing sports tourism is a core priority for the current administration, Griffith noted, and expanding this initiative would directly advance that goal while strengthening regional swimming ties.

  • Panorama crown back in Babonneau

    Panorama crown back in Babonneau

    One year after seeing their six consecutive championship run come to an end, Courts Babonneau Steel Orchestra has bounced back to reclaim the top spot at the 2026 Republic Bank Panorama competition, securing the coveted title in a tense final round of competition held Sunday night.

    In a remarkable twist that added drama to the annual steelpan competition, both the newly crowned champion and last year’s winner chose the same arrangement for their final performances: Rootsy’s beloved piece *Hilary*. When the final scores were tallied, Courts Babonneau’s dynamic interpretation of the selection earned them a total of 247.5 points, enough to edge out defending champions Pantime Steel Orchestra, who finished just 3.5 points behind with 244 points to claim second place.

    Pantastic Muzik Steel Orchestra rounded out the top three with a score of 226 for their performance of *Boom Bye Bye* by Messanger, while LCCU Laborie Steel Pan took fourth position with 224 points for their rendition of *Cyah Believe It* by Sly.

    Alongside the coveted orchestra title, the competition also featured a closely contested solo division. Chazzi Desrivieres emerged as the solo champion, earning an overall score of 433.5 for his performance of Arthur’s *Lottery*. Jessy Nurse claimed second place in the solo category with 423 points performing Kisha Kay’s *Different Energy*, and Omar Gabriel followed closely behind in third with 416 points for the same selection. Kannis Desrivieres took fourth place in the solo competition with 398 points for his take on Imran Nerdy’s *Feelings*.

    The 2026 Republic Bank Panorama continues the event’s long legacy as a premier celebration of steelpan music, showcasing elite talent from across the region and drawing widespread attention from fans of the genre globally. For Courts Babonneau, the victory caps off a year of intense preparation after their unexpected defeat in 2025, reaffirming their status as one of the most dominant steel orchestras in the competition’s recent history.

  • Aspirers Athletics Club delivers historic 52-medal performance at Trupial Classic in Curaçao

    Aspirers Athletics Club delivers historic 52-medal performance at Trupial Classic in Curaçao

    One of the Dominican Republic’s most promising track and field programs, Aspirers Athletics Club, has etched its name into the history books of regional athletics after a dominant showing at the 35th annual Trupial Classic hosted in Curaçao. The team departed the island competition with an unprecedented haul of 52 medals alongside five major overall trophies, a result that club leadership and regional sports analysts alike are calling a landmark milestone not just for the organization, but for Dominican athletics as a whole.

    The Trupial Classic, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious annual open track and field competitions, draws hundreds of elite amateur and developing professional athletes from across the region each year, competing across sprinting, distance running, jumping, and throwing events. Against a stacked field of regional rivals, Aspirers Athletics Club’s athletes delivered consistent podium performances across nearly every category of competition, resulting in the 52-medal haul that far outpaces the club’s previous best performance at the international event.

    Club officials confirmed that the achievement reflects years of targeted grassroots development, investment in young coaching talent, and expanded access to training resources for emerging Dominican track and field athletes. What was once a small local club focused on nurturing youth talent has rapidly grown into a competitive force capable of outperforming much larger regional programs at major international meets. The five overall trophies earned by the team recognized top performances in multiple age-group categories, highlighting the depth of talent across Aspirers’ youth and senior rosters.

    Regional sports commentators note that the historic result also signals a growing strength in Dominican track and field, as emerging programs like Aspirers continue to produce athletes capable of competing at the highest regional levels. The club is already planning to leverage this momentum to expand its youth outreach programs, with the goal of identifying and developing more underrepresented talent from across the Dominican Republic ahead of future regional and national competitions.

  • Republic Bank CPL congratulates Ravina Shankar and Dr Tara Wilkinson-Mcclean on Cricexec Women’s Power 50 2026 selection

    Republic Bank CPL congratulates Ravina Shankar and Dr Tara Wilkinson-Mcclean on Cricexec Women’s Power 50 2026 selection

    Two top executives from the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have earned a prestigious industry nod, landing spots on the 2026 Cricexec Women’s Power 50 ranking, the league announced in an official press release dated July 13, 2026. CPL has publicly extended its congratulations to Ravina Shankar, the league’s Director of Business Operations, and Dr. Tara Wilkinson-McClean, CPL’s Head of Partnerships, for their groundbreaking inclusion on the annual list.

    The Cricexec Women’s Power 50 was created to celebrate the most impactful female trailblazers transforming the global cricket landscape. The annual spotlight highlights women leaders whose work is accelerating the sport’s expansion, fostering innovation, and driving commercial progress across every segment of cricket, from on-field operations to off-field business strategy. The 2026 cohort features outstanding female executives from a wide range of cricket sub-sectors around the world, including broadcasting, governance, commercial partnerships and event operations.

    Shankar has held a central, irreplaceable role at CPL for years, leading the planning and execution of the league’s annual tournament operations. Her leadership has been critical to delivering seamless, successful events across multiple host venues throughout the Caribbean, while continuously raising the bar for event management standards and logistical excellence across the league.

    For her part, Dr. Wilkinson-McClean has been the driving force behind the explosive growth of CPL’s commercial partnerships portfolio. She has built long-standing, mutually beneficial relationships with leading global brands and tournament sponsors, contributions that have broadened CPL’s global audience reach and cemented the league’s reputation as one of the most dynamic and exciting franchise cricket competitions in the world.

    Pete Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Republic Bank CPL, emphasized the significance of the recognition for both the executives and the league. “Ravina and Tara are exceptional leaders whose relentless dedication and deep expertise have been foundational to CPL’s ongoing growth and success,” Russell said. “This honor from Cricexec is absolutely well-deserved, and it reflects the enormous impact they have made not just within our organization, but across the entire global cricket community. We could not be prouder to see them celebrated on this year’s Women’s Power 50.”

    Shankar shared her reaction to the news, saying she was humbled by the inclusion. “It’s a true honor to be named to this list alongside so many inspiring women who are reshaping cricket,” she said. “I’m grateful to work for a league that prioritizes growth and innovation, and I’m excited to continue building on this work in the years ahead.”

    Dr. Wilkinson-McClean echoed that gratitude, framing the recognition as a testament to the collective work of the entire CPL ecosystem. “Being recognized by Cricexec is a wonderful validation of the partnership-building work we have built at CPL over many years,” she said. “I owe this achievement to our partners, our sponsors, and the entire CPL team, whose constant support has helped us get to this point.”

    Beyond celebrating its own two honorees, CPL extended congratulations to every woman included on the 2026 Women’s Power 50 list. The league reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to advancing diversity and elevating female leadership across all levels of the sport of cricket.

  • Guyana Amazon Warriors unveil overseas contingent for CPL 202

    Guyana Amazon Warriors unveil overseas contingent for CPL 202

    As excitement builds ahead of the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 season, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have finalized and unveiled their full cohort of international signings, marking a major step in the franchise’s preparation to build on its impressive 2025 tournament performance.

    The five-player overseas roster brings together elite match-winning experience from across the global cricketing landscape, balancing veteran expertise with dynamic young talent to strengthen every department of the team—from the opening batting order to wicketkeeping and the entire bowling attack. The confirmed international signings are leg-spinner Imran Tahir (South Africa), explosive batter Glenn Phillips (New Zealand), all-rounder Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius (South Africa).

    Tahir, widely regarded as one of the most successful leg-spin bowlers in the history of global T20 franchise cricket, adds unparalleled decades of experience to the Warriors’ spin attack. His signature control over middle-over periods and consistent ability to claim critical wickets make him a decisive strategic weapon for the side.

    New Zealand international Glenn Phillips brings explosive, multi-dimensional skill to the top of the batting order. Renowned for his aggressive strokeplay, elite athleticism in the field, and ability to shift the momentum of an innings at will, he adds valuable versatility to the franchise’s batting unit.

    Mohammad Nabi, one of the most reliable all-rounders in contemporary international cricket, returns to bring steady off-spin bowling and experienced lower-order hitting to the Warriors. His calm composure under pressure across the world’s top franchise tournaments cements his role as a key contributor in the middle overs.

    Rahmanullah Gurbaz, one of the most promising young wicketkeeper-batters in global cricket, joins the squad as a fearless opening batter. His aggressive approach during the powerplay overs injects additional firepower into the Warriors’ opening combination, giving the side a strong start to chase or set big totals.

    Completing the overseas contingent is Dwaine Pretorius, the South African all-rounder who brings tight new-ball control, disciplined death-over bowling, and capable lower-order hitting to the roster. His extensive experience across franchise leagues around the world adds extra balance and tactical flexibility to the Warriors’ squad management.

    When paired with the team’s already strong core of domestic Guyanese and regional West Indian talent led by star batters Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope, the new international signings leave the Amazon Warriors with a deep, well-rounded squad capable of competing across every phase of T20 play heading into the 2026 CPL season.

  • The Sacrifice and Pressure Facing World Cup Referees

    The Sacrifice and Pressure Facing World Cup Referees

    As 48 national teams chase the most coveted trophy in global soccer at the 2026 World Cup, a select group of unsung contributors is also under the spotlight at the sport’s biggest quadrennial event: the tournament’s handpicked refereeing team.

    Per reporting from CNN, FIFA has selected a total of 170 officials to oversee the 2026 competition, broken down into 52 primary match referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referee (VAR) specialists. This cohort hails from 50 different FIFA member associations, marking inclusive representation that includes eight American officials and six female referees ahead of the tournament.

    But earning a spot on a World Cup officiating roster is not a simple feat: it demands decades of targeted preparation, relentless personal sacrifice, and ongoing performance evaluation that tests even the most dedicated candidates. Leif Lindberg, a former assistant referee who officiated the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, shared with CNN Sports that officiating at the World Cup is a lifelong goal for nearly every official who enters the profession. “Every one of us was dreaming about officiating the World Cup,” Lindberg explained. Yet he emphasized that the path to the tournament almost always carries a heavy personal cost: the grueling demands of training and nonstop travel force most officials to sacrifice critical time with their families for years to pursue their dream.

    FIFA’s rigorous selection process for 2026 kicked off immediately after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with candidates undergoing repeated fitness testing, mandatory intensive training seminars, and consistent performance reviews for every domestic and international match they officiate over the four-year cycle. Renato Faverani, a former Italian assistant referee who worked the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, noted that referee teams are under constant close scrutiny throughout every top-tier competition they work. “Afterwards, you receive an evaluation, which is then compared with other referee teams,” Faverani told CNN. Only officials with a proven track record of elite experience at the highest levels of professional soccer earn consideration; before his 2014 World Cup appointment, Faverani had already officiated top competitions including Italy’s Serie A, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA European Championship.

    Unlike competing players, who know their match schedule weeks in advance, referees have no advance insight into which games they will officiate during the tournament. FIFA only assigns officials to specific matches three to four days before kickoff, matching appointments to current performance levels and the unique needs of the tournament bracket. To avoid conflicts of interest, officials are also never assigned to oversee matches that involve their home nation.

    Officiating a high-stakes World Cup match requires far more than a mastery of the official laws of the game. Before every assignment, officials spend hours deep diving into the assigned teams’ tactical approaches, the on-pitch tendencies of individual players, and analysis of previous matches between the two sides to prepare for every possible scenario.

    It is a rare achievement even for the most skilled officials: CNN reports that only a tiny fraction of the thousands of registered FIFA officials worldwide will ever earn the chance to officiate at a World Cup.

    Beyond the grueling preparation and on-pitch pressure, today’s referees also face growing levels of verbal abuse from fans, particularly on social media platforms. Daniele Curcio, president of Referee Abroad, told CNN Sports that eroding public trust in officials is creating a crisis that threatens the future of the officiating profession. “Referees can be wrong, just like a player can miss a penalty,” Curcio said. “But you need to believe in them.” Still, even amid widespread criticism and personal sacrifice, veteran former officials note that refereeing remains an incredibly rewarding career that builds core life skills including discipline, emotional resilience, and strong leadership.

  • Education Ministry receives torch for Santo Domingo 2026 Games

    Education Ministry receives torch for Santo Domingo 2026 Games

    The countdown to the 25th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to open in Santo Domingo in 2026, has passed a major milestone as the event’s iconic “Flame of Values” torch was officially received by Dominican Republic’s Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps. In a ceremony marked by widespread participation from education stakeholders, De Camps framed the torch as far more than a ceremonial precursor to the regional sporting competition, positioning it as a living symbol of the core principles that anchor the Dominican national education system.

    The reception event, held at the Education Ministry, brought together a cross-section of the country’s education community, including Alberto Rodríguez, director of the National Institute of Physical Education (INEFI), senior education ministry officials, local teachers, and hundreds of secondary and university student representatives. During his remarks at the gathering, De Camps emphasized that the flame embodies a suite of foundational values that both sports and education seek to instill: discipline, mutual respect, personal integrity, relentless perseverance, collaborative teamwork, and unwavering fair play.

    Student leaders who took part in the ceremony echoed this sentiment, welcoming the flame to the education sector and highlighting its broader meaning as a unifying force that connects nations across the Central American and Caribbean region. They noted that the flame also represents a shared commitment to athletic excellence and responsible citizenship, reinforcing the well-documented role that organized sports play in fostering holistic character development for young people.

    The journey of the “Flame of Values” began months ago far from the Dominican Republic: the torch was first lit on April 11 at the historic archaeological site of Teotihuacan, Mexico, a location steeped in regional cultural history that nods to the shared heritage of participating nations. After traveling to the Dominican Republic, the national torch relay was officially launched on May 6 by Dominican President Luis Abinader, under the official name “Wiche García Saleta Route: The Flame of Values”.

    The multi-month relay, which travels across the Dominican Republic accompanied by Colí, the official mascot of the 2026 Games, is set to conclude on July 24, 2026. On that day, the final torchbearer will light the Games’ cauldron during the official opening ceremony in Santo Domingo, marking the official start of 11 days of competition that will bring together more than 6,000 elite athletes from 37 countries and territories across the region.

  • Cuba registers 504 athletes for Santo Domingo 2026 Games

    Cuba registers 504 athletes for Santo Domingo 2026 Games

    As preparations ramp up for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games set to take place in Santo Domingo in 2026, Cuba has formally submitted its largest national delegation in recent Games history, locking in 504 athletes across 42 competitive sports to compete next year. The island nation’s roster will be spread across 356 of the 497 total medal events on the Games’ official program, marking an ambitious showing against a backdrop of persistent domestic economic challenges.

    According to José Antonio Miranda Carrera, director general of high performance at Cuba’s National Institute of Sports (Inder), the size and scope of the 2026 delegation underscores the country’s long-standing dedication to regional athletic excellence. Despite facing ongoing economic constraints that have impacted sports training and logistics, Cuba remains committed to retaining its position among the top three performing nations in the Games’ overall medal standings, a goal Miranda says the entire delegation is focused on achieving.

    Minor adjustments to the final roster left Cuba just two spots short of filling its full 506 allocated athlete quota, with late changes to entry numbers in the canoeing and diving disciplines forcing the small cut. Even with this adjustment, the 2026 delegation still outpaces the 494 athletes Cuba sent to the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games hosted in San Salvador, representing a small but notable expansion of the nation’s competitive presence.

    Cuba’s competitive targets for the 2026 Games extend beyond a top-three ranking: officials have set a goal of claiming roughly 70 gold medals, and the event will also serve as a critical qualification pathway for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima. A total of 19 sports at the Santo Domingo Games will award qualification spots for the upcoming Pan American event, making early, strong performances critical for Cuban athletes aiming to compete in Lima in two years.

    To acclimate to local time zones, venue conditions and the Dominican Republic’s climate, a number of Cuban athletic squads have already arrived and begun training on the ground. Among these early arrivals are athletes from women’s volleyball, judo, shooting, weightlifting, and triathlon, who have been setting up training camps ahead of competition. The nation’s men’s and women’s water polo teams are scheduled to join the pre-Games training group on July 19, completing the bulk of the delegation’s arrival for preparation.

    Looking back at recent regional competition, Cuba secured third place in the overall 2023 San Salvador Games medal table, finishing behind hosts Mexico and Colombia. But across the entire history of the Central American and Caribbean Games, Cuba holds an unrivaled record as the most successful competing nation, leading the all-time overall medal standings by a significant margin. This historic legacy of excellence is a core driver of the 2026 delegation’s high ambitions, officials say.

  • Windwards lose to Barbados in CWI Rising Stars opener

    Windwards lose to Barbados in CWI Rising Stars opener

    The 2026 Cricket West Indies Under-19 Rising Stars Men’s 50-Over Championship kicked off its opening fixture at Antigua & Barbuda’s Bethesda Sports Ground, where a high-octane clash between Windward Islands and Barbados ended with Barbados securing a comfortable 114-run win to open their campaign on a high note.

    Barbados won the toss and opted to bat first, but got off to a rocky start, losing their opening wicket when the total scoreboard had only reached three runs. Rather than collapsing, however, the young Barbadian side rallied around captain Gadson Bowens and batter Jordan Graham, who put together a crucial century partnership that dragged their side out of early trouble and into a commanding position on the pitch. After the pair fell, the middle-order duo of Kelani Clarke and Kemar Dixon extended the momentum with a 78-run stand, before lower-order batter R’Jai Gittens delivered a blistering cameo: he smashed 49 runs off just 16 deliveries to accelerate the total to a massive 392 for 9 at the close of the 50 overs. Thirty-two of Barbados’ total came from extras, while for Windward Islands, seamer Aiden Burton turned in the standout bowling performance, claiming three wickets for just 36 runs from his full 10-over allocation. Kevin Joseph supported with two wickets for 51 runs from his 10 overs.

    Chasing a daunting target of 393 to claim an opening win, Windward Islands suffered immediate early setbacks that put them on the back foot. Top-order batters Derwin Lewis and West Indies Under-19 representative Earsinho Fontaine departed for just four and three runs respectively, leaving the innings in disarray early on. Windward Islands captain Theo Edward and Aiden Burton, the side’s leading bowler from the first innings, stepped up to steady the chasing effort, putting together a 139-run partnership from 23 overs that brought the run rate up to a solid 6.15 and kept the side in the hunt past the halfway mark of the chase.

    Disaster struck soon after, however, when both Edward and Burton were dismissed with the score still at that 139 mark. The collapse deepened when subsequent batters Johnathan Daniel and Zach Thomas both fell without adding a single run to the total. While Saint Lucian batter Tyler Venner mounted a determined rearguard effort, finishing with an unbeaten 71 runs from 62 balls, his knock was not enough to overcome the early damage. Both Edward and Venner posted half-centuries for the side, but consistent wicket losses left the chase unmoored, and Windward Islands was bowled out 114 runs short of Barbados’ total.

    Windward Islands will now turn their focus to bouncing back from this opening defeat, when they face Trinidad & Tobago at Coolidge on Monday in their second group fixture of the championship.

  • Saint Lucia win gold, silver at ECVA beach volleyball

    Saint Lucia win gold, silver at ECVA beach volleyball

    The Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-20 Beach Championships wrapped up this week on the sun-soaked sands of Frigate Bay, Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis, and athletes from Saint Lucia are heading home with a haul of well-earned medals, headlined by a gold medal finish from the men’s division.

    For Saint Lucian men’s pair Peter Emmanuel and Lindan Clarke, the tournament was nothing short of a masterclass in consistent dominance. The duo entered the competition with one key goal: to outperform the silver medal result Emmanuel earned with the 2025 Under-21 national team. By the end of the week, they delivered far beyond that mark, finishing the entire tournament undefeated to claim the top spot on the podium.

    Heading into the semifinal round, Emmanuel and Clarke had outclassed every opponent they faced, winning each set by an average margin of seven points. Their toughest test came in the gold medal match, where they squared off against Dominican pair Tahj Jno Jules and Caiston Anthony. Despite a stiff challenge from the Dominican side, the Saint Lucian duo held their ground to secure a straight-set victory, 21-18 in the first set and 21-19 in the second, closing out an undefeated run to the title.

    Speaking after the win, Emmanuel opened up about his mix of excitement and targeted reflection. “Personally, I feel overjoyed,” he said. “But at the same time, we still have a couple of areas to brush up on, like the starting of our game. I feel like we do too many careless errors, and it takes a while for us to get our momentum going. And when we do get one, we sometimes let it go too easily to the other team. But other than that, I feel excited.”

    On the women’s side of the tournament, Saint Lucia’s Abigail Evans and Aryanna Desir fought their way to a third-place bronze medal finish, marking an impressive debut for the new pairing. The duo got off to a rocky start, dropping a hard-fought three-set opening match to Grenada, but they quickly rebounded with a win over host nation St Kitts & Nevis to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals against St Eustatius. That matchup also went the full three sets, with Evans and Desir pulling out a narrow win to advance to the semifinal round.

    In the semis, the Saint Lucian pair faced a determined host nation team that ultimately blocked their path to the gold medal match. But Evans and Desir refocused quickly for the third-place playoff, where they faced the St Kitts & Nevis second team for the second time in as many days. The pair controlled the match from start to finish, picking up a comfortable 2-0 win (21-7, 21-18) to secure a spot on the podium.

    Evans noted that while the pair had higher aspirations for the tournament, the result was a promising milestone for their new partnership. “I would say it wasn’t what we wanted, and we sure could have won the gold medal, but I’m very happy with our effort,” she said. “I think we did well for our first real tournament together.”

    In the women’s gold medal match, Team Bermuda claimed the top prize after a dramatic three-set battle against the St Kitts & Nevis first team, winning 21-16, 11-21, 15-12 to take home the regional title.