Ashley Khalil added another international medal to her career after securing silver for Guyana at the PanAm Masters Squash Championships in Medellín, Colombia.
Khalil finished runner-up in the women’s final on Sunday after going down to Chile’s Anita Pinto in four games. The Guyanese player started strongly and won the opening game 11-5, but Pinto recovered to take the next three games 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 and claim the continental title.
The silver medal capped a strong campaign for Khalil, who reached the final without dropping a game. She defeated Nathalie Champlain of the United States, Natalia Diaz of Chile, Grace Birmingham of the United States and Karina Salti of Colombia, all by 3-0 margins, before falling just short in the final.
Despite the achievement, Khalil said there was some disappointment after coming so close to the title.
“I am a little disappointed, as I think any athlete would be after reaching a final and falling just short. However, I had my opportunities during the match and wasn’t able to execute as effectively as I would have liked at some key moments. That’s something I will reflect on, learn from, and continue working on as I prepare for future tournaments,” she said.
Khalil said the experience will be useful as she continues to prepare for future competitions.
“It’s back to the drawing board now. There are always areas to improve, and this experience has given me valuable lessons that I can take into my training and upcoming competitions,” she noted.
The result represents another notable performance for Guyana on the international squash stage and further strengthens Khalil’s standing as one of the country’s leading racquet sport athletes.
“Overall, I’m grateful for the experience, proud to have represented Guyana, and pleased to come away with a PanAm Masters silver medal,” Khalil added.
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