The Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA) will host the All-Jamaica National Junior Badminton Championships this weekend at the Kingston YMCA, showcasing the nation’s top junior talent with a spotlight on the Under-19 category.
The highly anticipated event, set for Saturday and Sunday, will be followed by the All-Jamaica National Open Championships on November 23-24, where senior players will compete in an intense knockout format for national titles.
JBA president Vishwanauth Tolan expressed enthusiasm for the tournaments and highlighted the key moments. “National champions will be crowned in each age group and category, and special prizes will be awarded for some of the top performances of the year,” Tolan said. “We will also honour Audley Astwood and Marcia Williams for their three decades of leadership in the schools’ league competition.”
Tolan also announced the introduction of a new category to the junior championships. “The first weekend will feature the inaugural ‘Rising Shuttler’ category, which will be open to players in the C and D divisions. We will crown the first-ever Rising Shuttler champions,” he said.
The junior championships will spotlight emerging talent in the Under-19 category. Among the boys, 14-year-old Amir McBean, the current Under-15 and Under-17 champion, leads the competition as the top seed. His older brother, 17-year-old Jorie McBean, is seeded second, setting the stage for a compelling sibling rivalry. Both were semifinalists in last year’s Under-19 competition and are expected to deliver strong performances.
Among the girls, top seed Jade Ranger, last year’s Under-17 champion and Under-19 finalist, will face Amelia Dawkins in a marquee matchup.
In doubles, Daniel Ford and Joseph Morrison lead the boys’ draw, while Jade Ranger partners with Cassandra Russell as the top-seeded girls’ duo.
The mixed doubles bracket will feature the formidable team of Samuel Smith and Jade Ranger as top contenders.
The senior championships promise fierce competition. In the women’s singles, top-ranked Tahlia Richardson is expected to dominate, while the men’s singles will feature a showdown between Joel Angus and Craig Allison, the latter having recently upset Angus in a tournament final.
With national titles on the line, Jamaica’s best players will compete under a high-stakes knockout format, ensuring a thrilling climax to the badminton calendar.
