Jamaica knows badminton
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from December 1990.
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The gold in the mixed doubles was assured, being an all-Jamaica affair, while the women's doubles triumph by Maria and Terry Leyow was, more of a contest. The Jamaican women were forced to three sets but trounced the Trinidadians Debbie O'Connor and Virginia Chariandy in an anti-climatic third set, winning 18-14, 10-15, 15-3. Robert Richards and Maria Leyow, the senior pair, were taken to three sets also before defeating compatriots George Hugh and Terry Leyow 9-15, 15-1, 15-2.
Jamaica had earlier in the games reaped gold medals in women's hockey and the men's 4 x 400 metres. The fine performances in badminton helped to shore up the results of a Jamaican contingent that was small in terms of numbers when compared with previous games.
The Jamaicans carried off bronze medals in the men's and women's singles and were beaten in the men's doubles final to take their other silver. Jamaicans George Hugh and Paul Leyow lost in straight sets to the Mexicans Fernando and Ernesto de la Torre 11-15, 11-15.
Trinidadian ace Debbie O'Connor was on the losing end of two finals, the women's doubles and the prestigious singles, where she had a close first set with Mexican Maria de la Paz Luna, losing 811, but then failing to be her usual competitive nature in the second set, which she lost at one. At 24 years old the Caribbean triple crown holder, O'Connor, however, still has a great future.
Maria Leyow won bronze in the women's singles, when her sister Terry lost, through a walkover. Jamaican Richards made light work of Oscar Brandon of Suriname 15-3, 15-1 to carry off the other bronze.
Trinidad and Tobago finished fifth in men's football. Guyana ended the boxing championship with a silver from the 65.3 kilogramme contest when Andrew Lewis lost in the final. The referee stopped the fight in the third round following on onslaught by Cuban Candelario Duvergel.
