Guyana’s Mixed team at the ongoing, 4th South American Youth Games put up a valiant effort in the Teams competition but fell short on Wednesday and Thursday, going down to Bolivia and Peru, respectively.
On Wednesday afternoon, Guyana embarked on their second Group B fixture, taking on Bolivia.
Malachi Moore got the Guyanese off to a stellar start, coming from behind to defeat Sergio Ressini 3-2 in the first Men’s Singles match. Ressini took the first two sets 18-16 and 11-4, however, Moore turned the tides on his Bolivian counterpart, winning the remaining sets 11-9, 11-6 and 14-12.
Match two saw Guyana’s Samara Sukhai going down to Luciel Antequera 6-11, 7-11, 6-11 in a 0-3 loss. With the scores leveled 1-1, Guyana’s mixed doubles team of Moore and Jasmine Billingy gave their teammates the upper hand with a 3-1 victory.
The Bolivian pair of Luciana Cruz and Sergio Ressini took set one 11-6 but the Guyanese returned to claim three sets on the trot 5-11, 5-11, 9-11 for the win.
Bolivia’s Alan Duran managed to level things up in game four, getting the better of Guyana’s Kayden Meusa 3-0 (11,7, 11-7, 11-9).
In the decisive match, Jasmine Billingy took a strong lead against Luciana Cruz, winning the first two sets 11-6, 11-5 but Cruz would roar back, storming to victory with three straight sets 6-11, 5-11, 12-10 for the 2-3 win.
Then on Wednesday, Peru dominated the Guyanese team 3-0.
Malachi Moore stepped up to the plate first against Samuel Duffoo but went down 7-11, 4-11 and 8-11. Jasmine Billingy suffered a similar fate in Game 2, unable to capitalize on an initial lead against Luciana Granados in set one, 11-9. However, the Peruvian player turned the tables on the Guyanese, claiming 3 back- to- back sets 6-11, 4-11 and 5-11 for a 1-3 win.
For the Mixed doubles, Peru’s Natzumi Aquije and Keiji Takeda sealed their triumph with a 3-0 victory. The Peruvians defeated the pair of Moore and Billingy in three sets, 11-7, 11-6, 11-1.
The loss is likely to end Guyana’s campaign in the Mixed team event at the South American Youth Games, after a spirited effort from the young Guyanese team.
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