The Tribune

IN preparation for CARIFTA 2017 several members of Team Bahamas attended the 16th Barbados Invitational Tournament.

The tournament featured over 100 athletes from Barbados, Bahamas, Martinique, Guadelope and Trinidad and Tobago.

Representing the Bahamas were Reno Culmer (referee), Taryn Butler (52Kg) silver medallist, Karra Hanna (90+ kg) silver medallist, Desmond Bootle (73+ Kg) silver medallist, Mya Beneby (57 Kg) gold medallist, Rachel Rolle (78+kg) silver medallist, D’Arcy Rahming Sr (president), and Cynthia Rahming (coach).

Mya Beneby was the standout athlete, winning gold in her division and beating all athletes by Ippon, the KO score in judo.

This was Mya’s first international tournament but the result did not surprise coach Cynthia Rahming.

“Mya has shown great development and is ranked number one as a cadet in the nation. She is on track to represent us at CARIFTA and the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Another standout performance was cadet Karra Hanna who won silver. It was her first international tournament. She narrowly lost the gold medal to a brown belt from Trinidad and Tabago with many years experience.

She defeated another high ranking opponent from Martinique.

“We are delighted by the performance of the entire team and we are on track to have a medal winning performance at CARIFTA,’ said D’Arcy Rahming, president of the Bahamas Judo Federation who attended meetings with other Caribbean executives for CARIFTA 2017 which is scheduled to be held on April 7 next year.

Persons wishing to contact the Bahamas Judo Federation may do so at cariftajudo@gmail.com