If Bermuda's squash team make it to the Pan Am Games next year they will have done so the hard way.

For after beating Venezuela at the Pan American Championships on Tuesday, to put themselves within one victory of securing their place, they crashed to hosts Ecuador yesterday.

That loss means Bermuda's team of Tommy Sherratt, Nick Kyme, James Stout and Mel Caines have to win three more matches at the event, held at altitude in Quito, to ensure they are one of the nine qualifiers.

In yesterday's midday clash Stout lost to B.Larrea 3-1 (10-8, 5-9, 4-9, 4-9) before Kyme went on and disposed of G.Chabon 3-1 (9-1, 3-9, 9-0, 9-3).

That meant Sherratt had to win the decisive rubber, but unfortunately he lost to J.Chacon 3-0 (4-9, 0-9, 5-9).

"If we had won that we would have automatically qualified," said Ross Triffitt, Bermuda's director of squash. "However, we have now been knocked into the consolation round and will be required to win it to finish ninth."

The Island face Dominica this morning as they set about the challenge, but they will have to do so without number two player Sherratt.

"We should easily get through that match. However, we have had to rest Tommy as he is having some serious trouble with his hips," said Triffitt. "This is because the cork floors are very hard and his match fitness has not been the best and he has played a couple of tough ties."

The winner of the tie between Jamaica and Paraguay will be next up for Bermuda tomorrow, should everything go according to plan, with the final of the consolation on Saturday.

'We are pretty sure Tommy will be available for the match against Jamaica or Paraguay," said Triffitt. "He had treatment before his match and he will have some tomorrow (today) as well and I think the rest will do him the world of good."

Triffitt said everyone was disappointed with yesterday's result, but it did not take into account the circumstances the matches were played in.

"I don't think they can be disappointed with the way they played, they didn't play to their full potential but the conditions were very tough," he said. "There was a very vocal home crowd and it's very difficult for the players that don't speak Spanish when the match is being scored in Spanish and perhaps there's a little bit of coaching going on for those players.

"However, they were devastated to say the least. They knew that this was a big day today and if they had won they would have got straight through to qualify for the Pan Ams next year.

"Now it's very difficult, but they will pick themselves up and hopefully get through these next three matches."