Multiple Jamaican and Caribbean squash champion Chris Binnie has extended his sponsorship agreement with JN Fund Managers. The agreement was officially signed recently at JN Fund Managers, on Belmont Road in Kingston.
“I’m very grateful and thankful to JN Fund Managers, for signing on with me for another year,” said Binnie who has been impacted financially by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have been with the company for three years, and they have been supportive during the time that my career took an upward path. Without them, it would have been difficult to have done that. Therefore, the support they have given me over the years has been invaluable. And, it is my hope that it will continue to be mutually beneficial going forward.”
He said he was looking forward to returning to competition by September or October this year, after being forced to take a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there. I have been training again, full time and it is going to take some time to get back into shape and be competitive to be at the level I was, prior to COVID-19. I have faith and I’m committed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Allan Lewis, Managing Director of JN Fund Managers, said that the financial institution was happy to renew the sponsorship agreement with Binnie for another year.
“The Jamaica National Group is committed to being a leading performer among mixed conglomerates in the Caribbean and it is very important to the Board of Directors and team members that our performance benefits the people and communities wherever our member companies serve,” he said. “Chris is the leading male squash player from the English-speaking Caribbean and by encouraging and supporting him we hope he will be able to hone his craft and achieve even more success in competition.”
Binnie, who prior to the pandemic was ranked 65 in the world, is now training in Connecticut in the United States of America. “We have four guys in the camp, and one of them is ranked in the top 10, and another in the top 30. That is a good place to be so that I can aspire to attain their level,” he said.
Harpy Eagles complete 212-run win over Scorpions on day four at Sabina Park
The Guyana Harpy Eagles completed a comprehensive 212-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions on day four of their sixth round West Indies Championship fixture at Sabina Park on Saturday.
The Scorpions began day four 123-2 off 43 overs needing a further 296 runs for an improbable victory.
Things started horribly for the hosts when overnight batsmen Brandon King and Kirk McKenzie fell within the first ten over of the day for 15 and 40, respectively, leaving the Scorpions 127-4 off 49.4 overs.
The rest of the wickets fell with little resistance as the Scorpions ended up being bowled out for 206 in 71.1 overs.
Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair were the top bowlers for the Harpy Eagles with identical figures of 3-32 from 16.1 and 19 overs, respectively.
Full Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 424 all out off 116.3 overs (Kemol Savory 155, Tevin Imlach 101*, Gudakesh Motie 56, Ojay Shields 4-103, Peat Salmon 3-117) & 147-4 off 35.3 overs (Tevin Imlach 44, Kevin Sinclair 36, Derval Green 2-39)
Jamaica Scorpions 153 all out off 61.1 overs (Brandon King 32, Ramaal Lewis 24, Veerasammy Permaul 5-55, Isai Thorne 2-19) & 206 all out off 71 overs (Kirk McKenzie 40, Javaughn Buchanan 39, Peat Salmon 30, Gudakesh Motie 3-32, Kevin Sinclair 3-32).
Jamaican government contributes JMD$10 million to inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced a significant contribution of JMD$10 million (approximately USD$64,000) from the Sports Development Foundation to support the staging of the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet, scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Kingston on May 11, 2024.
Minister Grange expressed full support for the Invitational, highlighting its importance in providing athletes with a platform to assess their status and make necessary adjustments ahead of upcoming competitions, including the Olympics.
"This Invitational Silver Continental Category Meet, as per World Athletics Standard, will allow athletes and coaches to accurately assess their status and make the necessary adjustments to achieve the preferred results in good time for the upcoming Olympics," Minister Grange stated.
She emphasized the significance of hosting international athletes from the Caribbean, United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe, fostering healthy competition and camaraderie among participants.
Minister Grange extended a warm welcome to all athletes and emphasized the dual focus on performance and positive social interactions during the meet.
"Competitions of this calibre force all athletes to participate at peak performance while forging positive social interactions and camaraderie. So while great focus will be placed on the performances, an after party awaits you," Minister Grange added enthusiastically.
The Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet has already confirmed participation from international stars such as World Indoor Champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia, Dina Asher Smith from Great Britain, 2022 World 100m champion Fred Kerley, Trayvon Brommel, and rising triple jump star Jaydon Hibbert.
With the support from the Sports Development Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational promises to be an electrifying event, showcasing top-tier athletic talent and promoting the spirit of sportsmanship and competition.
“Let the games begin!” the Jamaican sports minister declared.
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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