The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment’s Barbados Road Tennis Open (BRTO) men’s final saw two-time winner, Mark “Venom” Griffith, add a third title, after winning the 2024 tournament.
The finals for both males and females, which were held last night at the Wildey Gymnasium, Wildey, St. Michael, saw a crowd of 2,500 patrons who came out to show support for the finalists.
Mr. Griffith, who played against Dario Hinds, won the game in four sets with scores of 17-21, 21-4, 21-8, 21-15. With only one set being dropped in the tournament, he said: “I was feeling a bit of pressure coming into the finals because I wanted to three-peat and had a bit of nerves …. Dario taking the first game was a surprise as well, but I came into my own and gave him a sow in the second game.”
Mark “Venom” Griffith, the only person to three-peat in this tournament, commended his father for staying by his side. “I know there are a lot of youths out there, who may be going astray, and they need someone to look up to, a father figure, a mentor, that person that could guide them on the right path. And my father has always been there for me,” he stated.
Meanwhile, female champion Kim Holder won against Sheldene Walrond, in a three-best match, 21-9, 21-16, 21 -17. Ms. Holder thanked her family and all her supporters for encouraging her in her victory.
She acknowledged that she was getting older and might soon have to hang up her racket. “I don’t know how long I got in tennis, but I will keep playing as much as I can. As you get older … you know, just playing on that physical level takes a toll … but I will further my career, probably in coaching. I started coaching in between because you know, I just love to give back,” Ms. Holder said.
The winners were awarded BDS$20,000. The second and third-place finalists received $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. (PR/GIS)
