Team Jamaica celebrates PanAm Games qualification after breakthrough in Paraguay

Jamaica Squash has returned home from Asuncion, Paraguay, with more than a bronze medal to celebrate.

The real prize was qualification for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

And after months of preparation, strategic planning and assembling the right combination of experience and emerging talent, the Jamaican team accomplished both objectives it had set before leaving home.

Debutant Declan James captured bronze in the individual competition, while Jamaica finished eighth in the team event, high enough to secure one of the coveted places at next year’s PanAm Games.

For James, making his first appearance for Jamaica made the achievement particularly meaningful.

“It’s an absolute honour to represent Jamaica for the first time,” James said. “It feels like it’s been a long time coming over the last couple of years, getting everything prepared for that moment.”

James makes immediate impact

James’ journey to the podium began with a first-round bye, giving the Jamaican time to settle into the competition before launching his medal campaign.

His second-round encounter with Guyana’s Daniel Carl proved relatively straightforward. James swept Carl in straight sets, 11-7, 11-1, 11-3, completing the match in just 25 minutes.

The challenge intensified considerably in the third round.

Facing Shahjahan Khan of the United States, James was forced into a much tougher battle that lasted nearly an hour. He responded with composure and resilience, overcoming Khan 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7.

The quarterfinal presented another test, but once again James found the answers.

He defeated Guatemala’s Josue Enriquez in three sets, 12-10, 11-2, 11-6, earning his place in the semifinal and moving within one victory of the final.

World No. 12 ends the run

James’ impressive run finally came to an end against Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas.

Cardenas, ranked No. 12 in the world and No. 2 among the players entered in the qualifier, defeated James 11-8, 11-4, 11-3.

The result nevertheless secured James an individual bronze medal, a significant accomplishment for a player ranked No. 23 in the world and No. 3 in the qualifier.

More importantly, his individual performance formed one half of a larger Jamaican mission.

“The tournament was really well run and we achieved the goals that we set out, to get a medal in the individuals and to qualify as a team for the Pan Am Games next year,” James said.

“We certainly accomplished that and that's obviously massive for me personally and for the team getting to the Pan Am Games in Peru next year, which is obviously the qualifying event for LA28 so a really good trip overall and can't wait for the next event representing Jamaica.”

Experience and youth combine for Jamaica

Jamaica’s qualification effort was built around a carefully assembled team.

James was joined by Chris Binnie, the many-time All Jamaica champion and internationally ranked player who came out of retirement specifically to help Jamaica pursue PanAm qualification.

The lineup also included Lewis Walters, the 2024 All Jamaica champion, and national representative Tahjia Lumley.

The team received a bye in the opening round before defeating host nation Paraguay.

Mexico then halted Jamaica’s run in the quarterfinals, leaving the Jamaicans eighth overall in the team competition.

That eighth-place finish, however, was enough to deliver the result that mattered most: a place at the Lima Games.

Anderson: The qualification was the priority

Jamaica Squash President Karen Anderson said the organization understood from the outset that the opportunity in Paraguay could not be taken lightly.

With Lima 2027 on the horizon, Jamaica had been approached by James about representing the country, creating an opportunity that required a strong supporting cast.

“As we knew that Pan Am Games in 2027 was in Lima, Peru and we had been approached by Declan James to represent Jamaica,” Anderson explained, “we knew that it was a massive opportunity for us to try and make those qualifiers in Asuncion in Paraguay in 2026 and so we had to put a strong team around him so that we could try and qualify because the only way you can qualify for Pan Am Games is through the team event and so we had to put a really strong team around him in order to participate and try and get a spot, one of 10 spots, to represent at the Lima-Peru Games in 2027.”

The strategy was straightforward: maximize Jamaica’s chances in both competitions.

“There were two goals, one to medal individual through Declan, and then to qualify for the Pan Am Games in 2027 through our team, our men's team entrance and so we were able to do that,” Anderson said.

One mission, two goals, one major achievement

The road to qualification was not without its complications.

Anderson acknowledged the challenges Jamaica encountered in the buildup to the tournament, but the outcome ultimately made the difficulties worthwhile.

“We had a lot of interesting challenges leading up to this, but all's well that ends well, and so we've qualified, and we're very excited about being able to participate in Pan Am Games in 2027 in Lima, Peru.”

For Jamaica Squash, the achievement is about more than a place on the PanAm Games roster.

Lima represents the next major step for a program combining established experience with new international ambition. James has already made an impressive first contribution, Binnie returned from retirement to strengthen the cause, and Walters and Lumley added further depth to the national team.

The immediate mission in Asuncion is complete.

Now Jamaica can turn its attention to Lima, and, beyond that, the qualification pathway toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.