Ashley with the trophies she won at the Caribbean Squash Championships and with her brother at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. She won her first singles title at the Caribbean Championships.
Ashley Khalil
After years of coming up short, an insatiable hunger drove Ashley Khalil to her first ever Caribbean Senior Squash Singles title in Jamaica last week.
The 29-year-old Khalil, who spreads her time between running two businesses and her squash career, came from a set down to defeat compatriot Taylor Fernandez 9-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 to win her first singles title.
She would later team up with Ashley DeGroot to win the Women’s Doubles as Guyana walked away with the Women’s team title and gave Ashley a hold on three trophies for the championships that concluded at the Liguanea Club in Kingston last Saturday, August 27.
She explained that after at least four previous failed attempts, her incredible desire to win helped her push to the title.
“I think what made this year different was the fact that squash had been off for such a long time due to Covid. Also, I was unable to play Caribbean Championships in 2019 due to injury and after therapy and recovery and Covid, I came back stronger and hungry for the title,” she said while revealing an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
“I am over-joyed to have this title under my belt, especially with this being my first time to even make it into the finals of this competition,” she said.
Khalil headed into the championships more prepared than she had been in previous years. With Covid restrictions being relaxed across the globe, she had the opportunity to shake off the rust and get back to playing close to her best squash.
“I started back training at the beginning of this year after being off due to Covid. In April, I participated and won a bronze medal in the Women’s team event of the Pan Am Championships in Guatemala,” said.
“A few months later I got some experience at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where I secured a silver medal in the Mixed Doubles Consolation with my younger brother.
“With such high levels of squash and gaining experience and knowledge throughout each competition I was able to come out to the Caribbean Championships with a focused mindset.”
Still, having never won before her expectations were tempered by reality.
“Going into this tournament I was expecting to do well, especially having a few bronze medals from previous Caribbean Championships, but I don’t think it actually sunk in that I could possibly win it even though I was going in as the number-one seed,” she explained while revealing that among the toughest opponents she faced during the tournament was her own countrywomen.
“It is always difficult playing your country mates,” she said.
“We play so often at home that we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so every match against a teammate is a tough one. I had to ensure I came out strong from the first point.”
She won her second title with DeGroot and said that the two share good chemistry.
“This is actually our second tournament playing doubles together. We previously won bronze at the CAC Games in 2014,” she said.
“Ashley and I have pretty good chemistry. We are very close friends off the court and that makes it a bit easier on court. We also know when to leave the shot for the other or to assist if need be.”
Ashley Khalil might have just won her first Caribbean singles title but she has had tremendous success at national and regional levels.
In her two decades playing the sport, after making her junior debut at 11, Khalil won her first Junior Caribbean title at age 14. She won a second Junior title at the U19 level when she was just 17.
She was a U15, U17 and U19 national champion in both squash and badminton and was Junior Sportswoman of the Year in 2007.
She also won silver and bronze medals at the Junior Pan Am Championships as well as bronze medals at the CAC Championships and South American Games.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Caribbean teams miss out on men's, women's 4x400m finals; get second shot at Olympic qualifcation on Sunday
There was no fortune for Caribbean countries at the backend of Saturday’s first day of the World Athletics Relays, as the various teams failed to progress in the men’s and women’s 4x400m events at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
In the female qualifiers, Jamaica’s quartet of Charokee Young, Ashley Williams, Junelle Bromfield, and Roneisha McGregor placed third in heat three in 3:29.03, behind Poland and France, who clocked 3:27.11 and 3:28.06.
Earlier, Cuba (3:31.56) and Dominican Republic (3:40.93) placed third and seventh, respectively, in heat two.
Ireland headlined the team’s that progressed, as they clocked a National Record 3:24.38 in qualifying. United States (3:24.76), Great Britain (3:24.89), Italy (3:26.28), Norway (3:26.89), Poland (3:27.11), and Canada (3:27.17), also booked their spots in the final, as well as for this summer’s Paris Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, it was more of the same on the male side of action, as Trinidad and Tobago’s quartet of Asa Guevara, Timothy Frederick, Shakeem McKay, and Jereem Richards, clocking 3:04.15 for third in heat one, where Japan (3:00.98) and Germany (3:01.25) secured the coveted spots.
United States initially won the heat, but they were later disqualified for an infringement.
Jamaica’s Malik James-King, Zandrion Barnes, Assinie Wilson, and Demish Gaye, clocked 3:02.46 for third, behind Belgium (3:00.09) and Nigeria (3:01.70). Guyana (3:09.91) was eighth in that heat.
The Bahamas (3:07.45) placed sixth in heat three, which was won by Italy (3:01.68), ahead of the fast-finishing Great Britain (3:02.10).
In the last heat, Barbados (3:03.72) and Dominican Republic (3:08.15), placed third and sixth, respectively, as Botswana (2:59.73) and South Africa (2:59.76) took the top spots.
Despite missing out on this occasion, the teams will have another shot at Olympic qualification in Round 2 action on Sunday.
Blown and Fantastic Warriors set for thrilling KPMG Squash League final this evening
Blown and Fantastic Warriors have secured their spots in the eagerly anticipated final of the 24th KPMG Squash League after impressive victories over Saints and Racketeers in the semi-finals. Squash enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting showdown between these two formidable teams, scheduled for this Friday at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, with the action kicking off at 6:00 pm on the main court.
The path to the final saw both teams display exceptional skill and determination, thrilling spectators with intense matches that highlighted the competitive spirit of the league.
In the first semi-final clash between Blown and Saints, Jerry Bell of Saints delivered a commanding performance to secure victory over Fraser McConnell in straight sets (21-17, 21-19, 21-13). However, Blown fought back fiercely, with Jake Mahfood and Andrew Bicknell securing crucial wins to propel their team to the final.
Meanwhile, the battle between Fantastic Warriors and Racketeers kept fans on the edge of their seats with extended rallies and impressive displays of athleticism. Racketeers' Adam Lee and Fantastic Warriors' Nabeel Jawad and Stewart Maxwell showcased exceptional talent, ultimately leading to a thrilling conclusion in favor of the Fantastic Warriors.
This year's league has witnessed captivating matches and standout performances, with a new champion set to be crowned following the absence of defending champions AGI (Advantage General Insurance). The competition, which began with 16 teams in early March, featured 64 players representing a diverse range of skill levels, from beginners to national champions.
A unique aspect of the league was the implementation of handicaps based on players' skill levels, ensuring a level playing field and offering every participant an opportunity to excel. Matches were extended to twenty-one points, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the games.
As the KPMG Squash League reaches its pinnacle with the highly anticipated final, squash enthusiasts and supporters eagerly await what promises to be an exhilarating showdown between Blown and Fantastic Warriors. Don't miss out on the action as these two top-tier teams vie for supremacy in this prestigious tournament.
Elite Jamaica squash player Julian Morrison fights back against doping allegations after positive test for Boldenone
In a bid to clear his name and restore his reputation, Jamaica's national squash champion, Julian Morrison, is challenging the provisional suspension imposed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) after testing positive for trace amounts of Boldenone, a banned anabolic agent.
The suspension came following an out-of-competition test conducted on January 18th, 2024, where Morrison's results showed the presence of Boldenone in his system. However, Morrison and his representatives strongly assert that the substance entered his body inadvertently, likely through contamination.
Dr. Emir Crowne and Mr. Matthew Gayle, legal representatives for Morrison, are steadfast in their support of his innocence. They emphasize that Boldenone's presence was unintentional and stress Morrison's commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport.
Speaking on behalf of Morrison, Dr. Crowne stated, "As best as can be determined at this time, the banned substance unknowingly entered Mr. Morrison's system through contamination." Morrison remains determined to expedite the process of vindication and is actively engaging with authorities to clear his name.
Boldenone, often associated with bodybuilding due to its anabolic properties, is prohibited in competitive sports. However, Morrison's case highlights the complexities of anti-doping regulations and the challenges faced by athletes when dealing with inadvertent exposure to banned substances.
Despite the setback, Morrison remains resolute and hopeful for a positive resolution. His representatives have expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts to overturn the suspension and restore Morrison's eligibility to compete.
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