Sports

Matthew Arindell Makes His Mark In Beach Wrestling

Barbados’ beach wrestling prospects seem to be in great hands. And this is evident by the outstanding showing of some of our young people at the Lake Erie Beach Wrestling Series, in Canada.

Justin Boyce, Matthew Arindell, and Rebecca Williams each secured first place in their respective categories at the August 2024 competition, while Barbadian descendant Kanye Cumberbatch of New York placed second in his class.

The win was thrilling for all of them, especially 17-year-old Matthew Arindell, who has now made his mark in the sport. He is excited to have accomplished such a feat, especially since he only had one year of beach wrestling experience under his belt. Reports are that he was able to outclass two highly experienced and decorated fighters.

“After winning the fight, which took at least two minutes or more, I felt satisfied knowing that my training wasn’t in vain, and it helped me to push for gold. My plans are to keep training hard and to compete in tournaments,” the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology student said.

In Canada, Matthew participated in an exchange programme at the Central Toronto Wrestling Academy in Ontario, and underwent a “very tough training regimen” under high-level wrestling coaches. He also trained with some refugee youths from several countries.

His coach, Sylvan Mascoll, praised the young man’s performance in Canada, describing it as “excellent”, especially since he has only been training for a year. He is hoping the 17-year-old student would get more opportunities to compete internationally. “That would be very good for him,” he surmised.

Initially, when Matthew started at Central Barbados Wrestling, under coach Mascoll, his focus was just on fitness training. But over time, he learned various techniques, to the point where he was encouraged to participate in the Barbados Beach Open last November.

“In my view, I did considerably well as an amateur, so I decided to pursue the sport further,” he stated.

Matthew is a graduate of the Barbados Wrestling Association’s initiative Beat the Block Wrestling Programme. Under that programme, he and a group of young people underwent training here last year with a Romanian coach, when the Barbados Wrestling Association and the National Peace Program (NPP) partnered to offer the training.

The teenager trains almost daily – he goes to the gym for two days and engages in wrestling drills and techniques for the rest of the week.

Acknowledging that there are some aggressive techniques within the sport, he stressed, however, that wrestling has assisted him in becoming resilient, as he presses on to reach his educational goals.

“Wrestling has helped me with my discipline towards most things, in general, and allowed me to keep the mentality to keep pushing past my limits.”17-year-old beach wrestler Matthew Arindell

“Wrestling has helped me with my discipline towards most things, in general, and allowed me to keep the mentality to keep pushing past my limits,” Matthew stated.

Young people who have an interest in this sport, he proffered, must be strong-willed, ready to push through failure, and learn from each experience, not only in wrestling but in life, generally.

Coach Mascoll added: “For any young person who has an interest in beach wrestling, it is very good. It helps you to relax, and focus on your goals in life, not just wrestling, but in life. Altogether, wrestling keeps you strong mentally and physically.”

Acting Director of the NPP, Alison Roach-Plummer, congratulated Matthew on his achievements and stressed government’s commitment to helping young people thrive on their journey.

“The NPP has been working assiduously to assist people and it remains committed to so doing. When we receive these good reports that people – young and old – are succeeding as a result of our contribution, then it makes us happy and propels us to continue,” Mrs. Roach-Plummer said.

President of the Barbados Wrestling Association, Rollins Alleyne, praised Matthew and the other young people who competed in the beach wrestling competition in Canada, saying he was proud of their performance.

Mr. Alleyne continued: “Matthew Arindell’s emergence as a new force in beach wrestling, along with the achievements of his teammates, marks a promising future for Barbados’ wrestling. Matthew’s journey continues with exciting opportunities on the horizon, as he heads to Canada for further training and competitions, the 2025 Junior Pan Am Games Qualifier, and the 2025 U20 World Championships in Bulgaria.”

Matthew recently showed off his prowess again in beach wrestling by taking the U20 Division (90+kgs) in the Third Edition of the Barbados Open Beach Wrestling Tournament.

Clearly, his love for and commitment to the sport will ensure that he continues to reap success, as he makes sure his name is indelibly written in the annals of beach wrestling. (PR/GIS)

Sports

FINAL T20I WASHED OUT

Article by David Harris

Rain washed out the fifth and final T20I match between the West Indies and England at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Sunday evening.

Only five overs were possible before the heavens opened up forcing the players to leave the field, and eventually play was called off a few hours later.

During the five overs, the West Indies raced to 44 for no wickets as openers Evin Lewis (29) and Shai Hope (17) continued from where they had left in the fourth T20 I on Saturday night.

Chasing 219 for victory, the West Indies scored 221 for five wickets in 19 overs, Lewis (68) and Hope (54) shared an opening stand of 136 runs in 9.1 overs that laid the foundation for the Caribbean side consolation win in the series.

England had already won the series after defeating their hosts by three wickets in the third T20 I at the same venue.

The West Indies international season continue with two Tests, three One Day Internationals, and two T20Is against Bangladesh.

The Test series starts at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on November 22.

Sports

A CLOSE WIN FOR ENGLAND AGAINST THE WEST INDIES

Article by David Harris

England won the T20I against the West Indies after defeating the regional team by three wickets in a close match at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Thursday night.

Set a target of 146 for victory England scored 149 runs in 19.2 overs. The visitors losing the wickets of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell for 43 runs at the end of the Power Play.

Opener Will Jacks (32) and Sam Curran (41) steadied the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 38 runs. Jacks faced 33 balls and counted three fours, after Jacks’ dismissal, Curran and Liam Livingstone (39) added 39 vital runs for the fifth wicket.

Livingstone received three chances during his stay at the crease. Wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran dropped him on six, off fast bowler Alzarri Joseph returning from his two-match suspension.

His second chance came when he was dropped by Pooran off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie on eight, and Shimron Hetmeyer failed to clasp a low chance at midwicket off Motie when Livington had scored 21.

Livingstone made the most of his reprieves, he struck Joseph for 16 runs in the 18^th over before being caught at long-off by Ramario Sheperd off Motie, by then England was within sight of victory. Motie was the most successful bowler for the West Indies with four wickets for 27 runs.

Earlier England won the toss for the third consecutive time and opted to field; the West Indies innings began disastrously losing five wickets for 37 runs in the sixth over, Rovman Powell (50) and Shepherd repaired the damage with 73 runs for the sixth wicket that took the score to 110 runs in the 16^th over.

The West Indies looked set to make a big score when fast bowler Jamie Overton trapped Shepherd lbw and picked up the wickets of Powell and Motie.

Joseph 21 not out and Akeal Hosein who was unbeaten on eight added 23 runs in the final two overs to take the score to 145 for eight wickets.

Man of the Match pacer Saqib Mahmood who took the early wickets at the start of the West Indies innings captured for 17 runs, and Overton picked up three wickets for 20 runs.

Sports

ENGLAND LEADS WEST INDIES 2-0

Article by David Harris

England took a 2-0 lead over the West Indies with an emphatic seven wicket victory at Kensington Oval on Sunday night.

Chasing 159 runs for victory captain Jos Buttler smashed a 45-ball 83 which included eight fours and six sixes to guide England to victory in 14.5 overs; Will Jacks contributed 38, and Liam Livingstone made an unbeaten 23 runs.

England had an early setback in the chase when opener Phil Salt who made a century in the first match was dismissed by left –arm spinner Akeal Hosein for a golden duck; but Buttler and Jacks shared a massive second partnership of 129 runs that placed the visitors on the road to victory.

Buttler and Jacks were dismissed by medium pacer Romario Shepherd in the 13^th over with the score on 130 by then England needed 29 runs to win the match, and Livingstone blasted three fours and a six to take the Englishmen over the line in the 15^th over. Shepherd took two wickets for 42 runs from 3. 5 expensive overs.

Earlier, the West Indies scored 158 for eight wickets after England won the toss and decided to field. Even though England bowlers were wayward with their lines they picked up the early wickets of Brandon King, Evin Lewis and Roston Chase to leave the West Indies wobbling at 35 for three wickets in the fourth over.

Captain Rovman Powell made 43 and Shepherd got 22 but their score 158 was insufficient to prevent the West Indies suffering a second consecutive defeat by England in two days.

Pacer Saqib Mahmood took two wickets 20 runs, Liam Livingstone captured two wickets for 16 runs with a mixture of off-breaks and leg-breaks, and off-spinner Dan Mousley picked two wickets for 29 runs.