JAMAICA DEFEATED Canada 3-2 to finish fifth in the mixed team event at Pan American Junior Badminton Cham-pionships in Guatemala.

In a historic first over Canada - at any level in the sport - Jamaica secured victories from Gareth Henry in the boys' singles, Mikaylia Haldane and Shana-Kay Bailey in the girls' doubles and Henry and Chadwick Parsons in the boys' doubles.

Bailey, in the girls' singles, and Tossainte Taylor and Mikaylia Haldane, in the mixed doubles, lost their matches against the Canadians.

Individual champs

Jamaica will now turn their attention to the individual championships, which started yesterday.

Henry, last year's Under-17 gold medallist, will be seeking to extend his success to the Under-19 level while the Wilson brothers, Sean and Shawn, who were also gold medallists last year, will be seeking to do likewise again.

Girls' challenges

Haldane and Bailey, who it is reported played well in the mixed team event, will be seeking to capitalise on those experiences when they compete in the girls' Under-17 and Under-15 sections, respectively.

It is also anticipated that Under-13 girls challenger Jahvaine Henry, who has been dominating local competitions, could find herself on the medal podium.

Henry will also contest the doubles with Jade Clarke and the mixed doubles with Sean Wilson.

Jamaica are seeking to improve their overall fourth-place finish last season when they won four gold and bronze individual medals.