CAMPIONES, Brazil (CMC):
JAMAICA finished fourth in the team event at the Pan American Junior Badminton Championship after going down to a fighting defeat to highly-ranked Canada in the semi-finals on Monday.
The Canadians were given a scare before squeezing a 3-0 win over Jamaica to get into the final where they lost to Peru in the final.
All the games were close but the Canadians kept their composure to secure their semi-final victory over the Jamaicans.
Martin Giuffre and Alexander Bruce dropped the second set against Jamaicans Gareth Henry and Geordine Hendy before winning their mixed doubles match 21-10, 19-21, 21-15.
In the singles games, Jamaican Shennelle Peart shot into a one-set lead against Michelle Li, who rallied to win 19-21, 21-11, 21-18, and Chandwick Parsons also took a set off Avish Makhol before the Canadian won 21-18, 21-23, 21-14.
The Jamaicans had beaten Mexico 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
In the consolation (Plate) event, Trinidad and Tobago beat Ecuador 3-0 in the quarter-finals and ran past Argentina also 3-0 in the semis.
Individual competition started yesterday.
