Jamaica badminton coach expect improved performance

“We expect some stiff competitions but I see us doing quite a bit of medaling in men’s doubles, mixed doubles, men’s singles,” Lewis told Old Harbour News prior to the start of the March 6-10 tournament.

The championships is an approved Badminton World Federation and Pan Am Badminton Confederation tournament and will see 26 countries vying for top honours as well as accumulating points in their quest for a berth at the 2020 Olympics.

A total of US$10,000 in purse money is up for grabs with the singles champion pocketing US$900, while US$1,200 is already allocated for the doubles winners.

Last month Jamaica failed to replicate their 2018 bronze medal performance in the men’s doubles at the 23rd Pan-American Badminton Championships in Lima, Peru where no individual or team managed to reach the medal round.

“It’s the luck of the draw basically. There are six big guns in the tournament, which included USA, Canada, Brazil, Guatemala, Jamaica and Peru.

“It was divided into three groups. The group that Jamaica found themselves in, we had four of the big guns in that group alone. So to advance out of that group would have been extremely difficult. That’s one,” said Lewis.

“And two, because of the condition and humidity, the players suffered a lot of injuries which caused them to not play to the highest of their ability.”

Jamaican finished the tournament in 10th position only ahead of Argentina, whom they defeated 3-0.  With no chance of advancing to the medal round Lewis said their focus had shifted towards the Jamaica tournament which include top world-ranked players in Guatemalan Kevin Cordon, who is the top men’s seed, Milan Ludik from the Czech Republic, Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel and Wales international Jordan Hart.

“I as well told them not to strain themselves or put out more than they could at that point because they had this tournament that they had to stay healthy for and get ready for which is the Jamaica International.

“It makes no sense for them to burden themselves or injury themselves any further knowing that we couldn’t get out of the group and not being able to play the Jamaica international.

“So I told them to just go out there and give a good showing as best as possible but not to extend themselves overly,” he said.

The Jamaica International Badminton Championships is free to the public.