3 November 2023
Guyana and Mexico: Adapting to life at the top table
Once they had completed their own round-robin programme – with a loss to Canada, Mexico’s women’s team became the most intent spectators as Japan and Australia played out their last round-robin game.
They knew, while wishing their fellow competitors no ill will, that a win for Japan over Australia would settle this year’s relegation battle in their favour. So, when Japan won, they all breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they were now safely in seventh position and back into next year’s A-Division. Skip Adriana Camarena spoke for all her team when she said, “we’re very excited. I’m over the moon and we’re very happy.”
Having lost last year’s B-Division final, the Mexican women were only promoted to the A-Division when Kazakhstan had to withdraw because of travel difficulties, and now they have had a chance to reflect on their experiences this time round.
Adriana said, “the team has learned what a team needs to be at this level. That means communication, knowing our roles, playing our roles. Shot making is crucial and the number one thing. But it all comes together when we take strategic decisions and try to make the best of them and practice those scenarios. Exposure to all that is the most important thing that’s happened to us.”
She added, “we learn from the best. Even when they trounce us, we’re learning, and we make careful use of those lessons, to apply them and to put them together for the next game.”
Taking part in this event for the past two years has clearly been a learning experience for the whole team, as second player Veronica Huerta explains, “I’ve been curling for not even two years, so to be playing against Olympians is pretty incredible. Just to know that we’re all human – we all make shots and we all miss shots, no matter what level you are at…I’ve enjoyed all of it.”
Another important point that the team make is that playing in high class conditions brings out the best in them. As third player Karla Martinez says, “the ice here is more consistent for us and I felt that as a team we work better on this ice here.”
If determination has anything to do with it, the Mexican women will be back next time round, stronger than ever.
Guyana men experience A-Division
Another character who seems determined to improve and come back again is Guyana’s newest team member, Khemraj Goberdhan.
Khemraj, or Devon as he is known, is playing lead for a Guyana team who are lining out for only their second international competition after taking part in the B-Division of the inaugural Pan Continental last year.
“When you’re watching it on TV as a fan you see how great these guys are, but seeing that in person when you’re facing them, you see really how good they are and that’s where you want to be.”
For Guyana, life in the A-Division after their promotion has been a steep learning curve, but both the team and Goberdhan on a personal level as newcomers to the sport are embracing the challenge.
“I would say (it has been) challenging, but you know it gives us something to strive towards. This year, playing against people that have been playing for twenty, thirty, forty years and I haven’t been playing for a full year, it can be a little intimidating, but the experience of seeing the likes of the Gushues and the Dropkins and taking that in is really cool.”
Even though Guyana have failed to win a game this year and have suffered relegation back down to the B-division, Goberdhan believes the exposure to playing against the top nations will not only prove invaluable to the skillset of the current team but will also increase awareness of the sport in the country and amongst the Guyanese diaspora abroad.
“I think the good thing about it is we’ve gotten a little bit of exposure now that we’ve that we’ve
won (the B-Division last year) and I think people are now starting to get into it seeing that, “hey there’s four guys from Guyana playing.” I think getting more people (Guyana diaspora) out here to curl (is key). Now, I have friends and family out here who want to at least try it and really the first step is trying, right? You may or may not like it but try it.”
Individually, Goberdhan is taking a holistic outlook towards the competition by making sure he does not let the chance to improve and enjoy the opportunity pass him by. “For me personally, it’s really just keep growing, keep getting better, and just enjoying the experiences.”
Written by: Padraig Faherty, Sports Media Trainee
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