SHAYNE FAIRMAN, STAR Writer

Needing crucial qualifying points to make the trip to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Caribbean men's singles and doubles badminton champion Gareth Henry came up short, seemingly in need of more training and improvement if he is to eventually make the historic Rio trip next year.

Henry was the recipient of a two-week Pan Am Development Training Camp to Peru earlier this month, which also served as warm-up/preparation for the XX Peru International tournament in that country.

He won two matches in the qualifying rounds but crashed out by virtue of losing his final game. The Jamaican turned back Christian Araya of Peru 21-16 and 21-13. Araya was ranked 471 in the world.

Henry then stopped Alfonso Garcia-Rossel, also of Peru, 21-6 and 21-11, but fell to higher-ranked Ygor Coelho de Oliviera of Brazil 21-15 and 21-18. Oliviera has been ranked at 167.

Expressed gratitude

The tournament will climax tomorrow. The ace Jamaican player expressed gratitude for the training opportunity he was given.

"Thanks to the PanAm Scholarship Grant. This is a great opportunity I have been awarded for a second year in a row. The two weeks has afforded us the chance to get more physical work done and then taper off to more technique, so an all-round assessment can be made," he said.

He added that he hopes to play his best game on court, and reinforce the faith local stakeholders have shown.

"Plans are to produce my best badminton and surpass the goals the JBA and myself have set for each tournament. Thanks to the JOA (Jamaica Olympic Association), I have the support where I need it," he outlined.