Source: http:// www.trinidadexpress.com By Kwame Laurence in New Delhi
Shanntol Ince created history at the Dr. S.P.M. Aquatics Complex, here in New Delhi, India, yesterday, becoming the first para athlete to represent Trinidad and Tobago at a major international Games. The 15-year-old swimmer celebrated the occasion by advancing to the women's 50 metres freestyle S9 final. Ince clocked 34.07 seconds to cop fifth spot in the championship race. In the preliminary round, she had finished third in heat one and sixth overall in 34.30. Natalie Du Toit was first home in the final, the South African touching the wall in 29.82 seconds. Australia's Annabelle Williams (30.03) claimed silver, while bronze went to England's Stephanie Millward (30.09).
Joshua McLeod was the best of the three T&T swimmers on show in the men's 50m butterfly semis. He finished fifth in heat one and 10th overall in 24.88 seconds. The top eight advanced to the final. Cadell Lyons (25.13) and Jarryd Gregoire (25.54) were 12th and 15th, respectively.
In the preliminaries, Lyons was 13th fastest in 25.16 seconds, while McLeod (25.19) was 15th and Gregoire (25.57) 16th.
In the women's 100m freestyle preliminaries, Cherelle Thompson finished 27th overall in one minute, 00.46 seconds.
Gregoire, McLeod and Caryle Blondell will be in the pool today, in the opening round of the men's 100m freestyle.
T&T's hockey women lost 11-0 to champions Australia. Emily Hurtz netted a hat-trick for the Aussies.
"We are very disappointed," said T&T player Alana Lewis, after the game. "We needed more discipline. We have a lot of work to do, and we need to focus on our defence."
The T&T women were beaten 12-0 by South Africa on Monday.
At the Yamuna Sports Complex, T&T archers George Vire and Rakesh Sookoo exited in the round of 32 in the men's individual compound. Vire was beaten 2-0 by Canadian Andrew Fagan, while Sookoo lost 2-0 to Welshman Owen Kalmaru.
Both Vire and Sookoo won in the first round of the knockout phase, but their teammate, Hasmath Ali lost his opening contest. He went under 2-0 to another Welshman, James Thomas.
Sookoo edged Northern Ireland's Darran Hall 10-9 in a tie break, after they had won a set apiece and battled to a draw in the other set. Vire stopped Cypriot Marios Perdikos 2-0.
T&T do battle with hosts India today, in a men's team compound elimination match.
Emile Abraham was among the starters in heat one in the men's 40-kilometre points race, at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. However, the T&T cyclist did not finish.
Today, Thireef Smart, Njisane Phillip and Haseem McLean will compete in the men's keirin. And in the men's sprint, Phillip, McLean and Christopher Sellier will fly the T&T flag.
Gymnast William Albert will be in action today at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, in the men's individual all-around final.
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, T&T sprinters Emmanuel Callender, Aaron Armstrong and Marcus Duncan face the starter in the opening round of the men's 100m dash, on day one of the Commonwealth Games athletics meet. Ayanna Hutchinson will be in action in the women's 100m.
At the Siri Fort Sports Complex, T&T squash pro Colin Ramasra faces Malta's Bradley Hindle in a men's singles classic plate quarter-final fixture.
T&T boxer Aaron Prince takes on St Lucia's Miguel Auguste in a welterweight bout, at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.
And in netball, T&T tackle Samoa in a Group A match-up, at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex. In their opening fixture, on Monday, T&T lost to Jamaica, 75-36.