Sheldene Walrond Reclaims the BRTO Title

After losing out last year to Kim Holder in the BRTO finals, Sheldene Walrond reclaimed the BRTO title again, rallying from losing the first game 14-21 against Rachel Smith to take the next two at 21-13, 21-13, drawing on all her experience to outfox her opponent, inside of 35 minutes.

The opening game between Smith and Walrond, was tied up at 5-5 before Smith established a five-point lead at 10-5. She then held onto that lead at 18-13, then advanced to 19-14, as she held on easily for the win at 21-14. 

However, Walrond roared back in the second game, taking the attack to Smith to lead at 11-4, and 17-10 as she served up some delightful shots in a spirited recovery. In that second match Walrond held on for the win at 21-13 to set up that third and decisive game.

That decider was a thriller being tied up at 5-5 and 8-8, before Walrond went ahead 13-9. After that Walrond pressed the accelerator to forge ahead to a virtual unassailable 18-12 lead and she never looked back to record an impressive 21-13 win to secure the women’s title.

In the end the scoreboard showed that Walrond had won the match-up against Smith 14-21, 21-13, 21-13 to cop the win and the 20,000 dollar first prize, whilst Smith earned 10,000 dollars for her efforts. 

In the women’s third place play-off, Maudlyn Blunt comfortably defeated last year’s BRTO women’s champion Kim Holder in straight sets 21-12, 21-13, to secure the win and ten thousand dollars to go with it, whilst Holder won five thousand dollars for her efforts as she finished fourth.

The games were streamed live to local and overseas audiences and throughout the region by FLOW.