A squad of almost 100 will represent Barbados at the XXII Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held between July 28 and August 8 in Birmingham, England.
Commonwealth Games Barbados announced on Friday a 65-member squad of 42 women and 23 men will take part in 12 disciplines, including athletics, boxing, cricket and netball.
“We have a long history of competing in the Commonwealth Games, dating back to 1954, and we look forward to our athletes showcasing their prowess in their various disciplines,” President of Commonwealth Games Barbados Sandra Osborne.
“We are especially excited to see women’s cricket on the schedule of sports this year, and look forward to seeing our female cricketers bowl and bat when Twenty20 makes its debut.”
The Barbados Women’s team will be the representative team from West Indies as a result of their victory in the 2019 Cricket West Indies Twenty20 Blaze tournament and postponement of the previous two editions before the qualifying cut-off period last July in line with Commonwealth Games Association tournament rules agreed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
All-rounder and new West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews will lead the 15-member Barbados Women’s side with fellow all-rounder Deandra Dottin, the self-proclaimed “World Boss”, her deputy.
Several coaches, managers, and trainers will accompany chef de mission Cyril Burke, assistant chef de mission Craig Archer, and general team manager Paula Jarvis to Birmingham.
A six-member medical team will also travel with the athletes and comprises chief medical officer Dr Ingrid Burrowes, fellow physician Dr Carl Ward, physiotherapists Marita Marshall and Alicia Brewster, and massage therapists Rondell Griffith and Sharon Coppin.
“It’s an honour to lead the Barbados squad to Birmingham 2022, and we look forward to competing and making our nation proud,” Burke said. “These Commonwealth Games will be challenging, with four villages rather than the usual one village.
“Despite this, our management team is experienced enough to meet these challenges head on, and will do all that is necessary to create an environment that lends to successful performances from our athletes.”
Barbados will be among 72 teams from the nations and territories of the Commonwealth taking part at the multi-sport event.
Squad:
Aquatics: Luis Sebastian Weekes, Jack Kirby, Danielle Titus, Danielle Treasure, Adara Stoddard.
Athletics: Kyle Gale, Shane Brathwaite, Nathan Crawford-Wallis, Rasheeme Griffith, Jonathan Jones, Rivaldo Leacock, Miguel Nicholas, Hannah Connell, Sada Williams.
Badminton: Kennie King, Shae Martin, Tamisha Williams, Sabrina Scott.
Boxing: Kimberly Gittens, Charles Cox, Jabali Breedy.
Cricket: Aaliyah A. Alleyne, Shanika Bruce, Shai Carrington, Shaunte Carrington, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Keila Elliott, Trishan Holder, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Alisa Scantlebury, Shakera Selman, Tiffany Thorpe, Aaliyah Williams.
Cycling: Jamol Eastmond, Amber Joseph
Gymnastics: Erin Pinder
Judo: Asa Weithers.
Netball: Faye Agard, Shonette Azore-Bruce, Latonia Blackman, Vanessa Bobb, Samantha Browne, Brianna Holder, Zakiya Kirton, Tonisha Rock-Yaw, Stephian Shepherd, Sabreena Smith, Akeena Stoute, Shonica Wharton.
Squash: Amanda Haywood, Meagan Best, Jada Smith-Padmore, Shawn Simpson, Khamal Cumberbatch
Table Tennis: Tre Riley, Tyrese Knight, Ramon Maxwell, Kevin Farley.
Triathlon: Matthew Wright, Niel Skinner, Zahra Gaskin, Chara Hinds.
(AR)