Five days of training, learning and friendship. The Pan American U23 High Performance Squash Camp brought 19 players from 13 countries to Georgetown, Guyana, from October 27 to 31, as the second stage of the Road to Lima 2027.
Organized by the Panam Sports Academy and Panam Squash, the U23 squash camp took place at the National Squash Centre. Here is how the week went, day by day.
Day 1: The U23 Squash Camp Opens
The camp opened on Tuesday with a presentation led by Camp Director Esteban Casarino. In addition, David Fernandes, President of the Guyana Squash Association, and coaches Martin Knight and Nicolette Fernandes shared a few words with the group.
Then it was time to hit the court. After a warm-up and match play, the afternoon focused on straight shots, with straight games and straight patterns. Finally, Nicolette Fernandes closed the day with a talk on cooling down properly. Then the athletes joined an open Q&A.
Head Coach Martin Knight with the players on Day 1.
Day 2: Pressure and Attack
First, the second morning started with a guided warm-up, plus footwork and mobility work. After that, the players took pressure and attacking patterns onto the court. Moreover, open game situations and plenty of play helped them improve their decision-making and create attacking chances.
Later, the day ended with recovery work, sessions with the medical staff and a dinner together. Indeed, camp life also brought the group closer off the court.
Nicolette Fernandes during a session with the players.
Day 3: Defense and Athletic Tests
Next, on Day 3, the focus moved to defensive patterns and shots. Then, in the afternoon, mobility, agility and speed tests helped assess their athletic development. Later, the day closed with recreational open play.
Mobility, agility and speed tests were part of Day 3.
Day 4: Putting It All Into Play
On Day 4, match play and competition simulations took centre stage. For this, the players were grouped by level, with the chance to move up or down between groups. As a result, they faced different styles and had to adapt on court.
Meanwhile, the group also welcomed a special visitor: Guyanese squash standout Mary Fung-A-Fat, who came to support the next generation.
Esteban Casarino and Nicolette Fernandes share advice between matches.
Day 5: Closing the U23 Squash Camp
Finally, the U23 squash camp ended with a closing ceremony at the National Squash Centre. First, each player received a certificate of participation. In addition, the three coaches received a certificate of recognition.
Respect and friendship after a match in Georgetown.
The Players and Coaches of the U23 Squash Camp
These are the athletes who took part in the camp:
Argentina: Candela Bernard · Barbados: Darien Benn · Bolivia: Andrea Fuertes · Chile: Camila Needham · Dominican Republic: Jesús Nino Peña · Ecuador: María Emilia Falconí · El Salvador: Miguel Ángel Orellana · Guatemala: Karen Barrera · Tabita Gaitán · Darlyn Sandoval · Guyana: Egan Bulkan · Kirsten Gomes · Kaylee Lowe · Nicholas Verwey · Mexico: Ana Karen Botello · Paraguay: Damián Casarino · Fiorella Gatti · Peru: Thiago Cabrejos · St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Jayden George.
The players and coaches of the U23 squash camp at the National Squash Centre in Georgetown.
The technical team was led by Esteban Casarino (Paraguay), Camp Director, with Martin Knight (Colombia), Head Coach, and Nicolette Fernandes (Guyana), Local High-Performance Coach. You can read more about them in our camp preview.
Martin Knight, Nicolette Fernandes and Esteban Casarino with their certificates of recognition.
In this video by Panam Sports, athletes and coaches share their experience in Georgetown:
Thank You, Guyana
Above all, this camp would not have been possible without the support of our hosts. We especially thank the Guyana Squash Association and its President, David Fernandes, for hosting us. We also thank the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for its support. Moreover, a special thanks goes to Nicolette Fernandes, our local coach, and to Mary Fung-A-Fat for visiting and supporting our players.
Now, the Road to Lima 2027 continues. A final preparation stage is planned for Asunción in 2027, before the Pan American Games, where squash will be played from July 25 to August 1. You can read more in our article on the Lima 2027 squash schedule.
Thank you to all the players, coaches and staff who made this week in Georgetown so special. See you on the Road to Lima 2027!
