Bermuda will not be represented in squash at the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, after the team fell short at the qualifying tournament in Asunción, Paraguay.

Anaya Smith, Taylor Carrick, D’Vario Thompson, Abigail Brewer, Sidney Wallace and Rachel Barnes represented Bermuda at the Pan American Senior Squash Championships.

While qualification was not secured, Micah Franklin, the head of squash at the Bermuda Squash Association, spoke with pride about how the players performed.

“I’m really proud of the team for going there and trying against the world’s best,” Franklin said.

“My expectations on behalf of the association were for them to go and try their hardest, fight for every point, leave it all out there. From the information we have been given, it sounds like they did that.

“They fell short and did not qualify. However, I’m expecting to have good conversations with all of them about the steps that we take to get the level up in Bermuda.

“Hopefully, we can let these guys be a focal point for the next generation to see what it takes to get to the highest stage.”

Taking on some of the best players in the world proved to be a tough task for the island’s stars.

As Diego Elias, of Peru, clinched his fourth men’s title, confirming his status among the most successful players in the history of the continental championship, Thompson and Smith were eliminated in the round of 64.

Carrick was the only Bermudian to reach the round of 32, after Jamaican Christopher Binnie was disqualified due to flight delays.

In the women’s singles, where American Amanda Sobhy, sister to Sabrina Sobhy, who competed at the Starr Bermuda Squash Open in April, captured her third Pan American individual title, Barnes, Brewer and Wallace exited the competition in the round of 64.

Barnes and Wallace could not get past the round of 16 in the women’s doubles. The partnership between Smith and Thompson fell at the round of 32 stage in the men’s doubles, while Carrick’s mixed combination with Brewer could not get past the round of 16.

Barnes, Bermuda’s No 1 female player, felt that continued participation at such competitions can strengthen the Bermudian programme.

“We’re so thrilled to have competed in the Pan Am Squash Championship in Paraguay this year,” Barnes said.

“We have a young team and are continuing to build our experience at these regional games.

“It is important to keep attending these events, as the level of play is at the very top for the region and over time, the programme will move from strength to strength.

“We are excited to continue the journey and I’m really proud of our team representing Bermuda at multiple events this summer.”

Carrick, who won his match against Cameron Stafford in the men team’s 2-1 loss to Cayman Islands,

“Individually, I was happy with the way I played in the team match but I was sad that we lost,” he said.

“I would have liked to play and win my first round match against Chris Binnie. It would have at least felt better on paper for me, but the guy I lost to, Alejandro Enríquez, has been ranked 76 in the world before so he’s pretty good.”

In an effort to improve his game, the Canada-based Carrick has engaged a new coach.

“I’m starting to work with a new strength and conditioning coach this coming week,” he said.

“So that’s quite exciting for myself. I’ll be working with a new guy who’s going to have a full programme and be a lot more involved than my last strength and conditioning coach, which is exciting.”