Squash gets help from Burger King

Marc Stamp, Gleaner Writer

Fast-food company Burger King has contributed $400,000 to the Jamaica Squash Association (JSA) to assist with its junior team's participation in the 2013 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships, July 22-28 in Trinidad and Tobago.

"We have been noting the development of local squash and seen the exciting exploits of players like Alyssa Mullings and Chris Binnie and we decided that this is a game we would like to support," Nicholas Mundell, Burger King's brand manager - sponsorship, said during a media briefing at Liguanea Club, New Kingston, yesterday.

"We know that the Caribbean Junior Championships plays a big role in shaping our young players by giving them exposure to high-quality squash and intense competition, and so we're pleased to be able to assist the team," he added.

Disciplined training

The JSA coach for the junior team, Rene Denis, said he expected a lot from the team at the Caribbean Championships.

"I arrived in mid-February and since then these guys (the squash players) have dedicated themselves four or five times a week to very disciplined training," the Canadian said.

"The preparation has been going very well. We just had the senior championships and the juniors won the D division, C division, B division and the women's A division. They beat senior players they weren't supposed to beat. They exceeded the expectations," he added.

With regards to his expectation at the Caribbean Junior Championships, Denis said: "Well, it's hard to predict the future, but I think we should win five or six of the eight events. If we don't win the team event, we should come at least second."

The JSA also received support from sports clothing manufacturer 305 Squash, who supplied the uniforms and playwear at a discounted price.

The team announced for the Caribbean Area Squash Association Championships includes Ashante Smith (co-captain), Jessica Perkins (co-captain), Adam Ardito, Alex Wright, Jake Mahfood, Joe Rousseau, Jonathan Walker, Julian Morrison, Tahjia Lumley, Alyssa Mullings, Ashley Lynch, Mia Lake, Mia Mahfood, Michaelann Denton, Mira Handa and Sarah Conway. The team manager is Gill Binnie, who is also secretary of the JSA.

Full Caption: Nicholas Mundell (left), Burger King's brand manager - sponsorship, hands over his company's $400,000 commitment to Gill Binnie (second left), team manager for the Jamaica Squash Association (JSA) junior team, and players, Jessica Perkins and Ashante Smith, co-captains of the Jamaica Squash junior team to the CASA Championship in Trinidad and Tobago from July 22-28. The presentation took place yesterday at the Liguanea Club, New Kingston. - Colin Reid/photographer