标签： Trinidad and Tobago

In a historic achievement for Trinidad and Tobago, young gymnast Yandy Stafford clinched the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the Pan American Junior and Youth Artistic Gymnastics Cup held in El Salvador on November 6. Stafford triumphed in the vault event, delivering a flawless performance that earned her a score of 13.35 and a place in the record books. This milestone marks a significant moment for Trinidad and Tobago in the realm of international gymnastics.

Stafford was part of a five-member national team that traveled to El Salvador on November 3 to compete against some of the region’s most talented young gymnasts. The team included Shanika Joseph, Asia Ali, Zariah Gittens-Dopwell, and Caeli La Roche, representing both the Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) hopes level two and level one divisions. All five athletes participated in the all-around competition on November 5, with Stafford finishing fifth in her division with a total score of 46.75.

On the second day of competition, Stafford showcased her versatility by qualifying for three event finals: vault, beam, and floor. While she placed sixth in the floor exercise with a score of 11.45, her defining moment came during the vault finals. Executing a Yurchenko pike vault with precision and a perfect landing, Stafford secured the gold medal, a first for Trinidad and Tobago in this prestigious event. She later concluded her day with a seventh-place finish on the beam.

The Pan American Junior and Youth Artistic Gymnastics Cup is a biennial event aimed at preparing young athletes for senior elite competition by the age of 16. Following their strong performances in El Salvador, Stafford and her teammates are now gearing up for their next challenge: the 2025 Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will be hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) in Couva on December 6 and 7.

As the FIFA international match window approaches, Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s football team, under the guidance of head coach Dwight Yorke, is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The team is set to face Jamaica on November 13 and Bermuda on November 18 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. With high stakes on the line, Yorke has been diligently working to ensure his squad is in peak condition.

Trinidad and Tobago (TT) made a resounding statement on the first day of the XXXVIII Carifta Aquatics Championships 2025 Water Polo tournament, held at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex in Florida on November 7. The TT teams showcased exceptional skill and determination, securing multiple victories across various age groups. The Under-16 and Under-19 male squads delivered back-to-back wins, while the U-14 co-ed team, along with the U-16 and U-19 female teams, also triumphed in their opening matches. The U-16 boys set the tone with a hard-fought 13-11 victory over Bahamas, despite a closely contested first half. They later extended their dominance with a 20-14 win against the same opponent. The U-19 males were equally impressive, defeating Curacao 24-11 and overwhelming Cayman Islands 27-3. On the female side, the U-19 team secured a commanding 12-3 win over Cayman Islands but faced a setback with a 13-3 loss to Bonaire. The U-14 co-ed team started strong with an 18-5 victory over Curacao but fell to Bahamas 10-4 later in the day. The U-16 females also began their campaign with a 17-12 win over Cayman Islands. The tournament continues on November 8, with the final matches scheduled for November 9.

The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as the semifinals of the RBC Royal Slam College Basketball competition kick off on November 8 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua. Four elite schools will battle for a spot in the championship, with Fatima College, Presentation College San Fernando, St Mary’s College, and Queen’s Royal College (QRC) vying for glory. The action begins at 4 pm with Fatima College taking on Presentation College, followed by St Mary’s College facing QRC at 6 pm. The stakes are high, as the winners will advance to the gold-medal match on November 9 at noon, while the third-place playoff will commence at 10 am. The semifinalists have little time to recover, making endurance and strategy crucial. Fatima College enters the semifinals with momentum, having dominated QRC 112-67 in their final preliminary-round game on October 26, thanks to standout performances from Williams Francis, Zachary Julien, and Idriis Martin. St Mary’s College also impressed, securing their Group B victory with a 96-83 win over St Anthony’s College on October 25, led by Nkobi Ince’s 35 points and Zane Peters’ 31 points. This weekend, one of these four teams will emerge victorious, claiming the prestigious RBC Royal Slam title and etching their name in college basketball history.

In a tightly contested rescheduled Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premiership fixture, Trinity College (Moka) and San Juan North Secondary played to a 1-1 draw at Trinity College Grounds in Maraval on November 7. San Juan North, currently positioned 13th in the 16-team league, took the lead in the first half with a goal from Malique Marrast. However, Trinity Moka quickly responded as Anton Joseph equalized before halftime. Despite both teams pushing for a decisive goal in the second half, neither could break the stalemate, resulting in a shared point. The outcome had minimal impact on the league standings, with Trinity remaining in sixth place and San Juan North holding onto their 13th position, just two points above the relegation zone. Both teams have one league match remaining to conclude their campaigns.