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  • 2 months ago
Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott finally added a World Championship gold to his cabinet, while Jereem "The Dream" Richards brought home silver from the track.

And back on home soil, the Trinbago Knight Riders touched down with their record-extending fifth CPL title, reminding the region that the red, white, and black still reign supreme.
Transcript
00:00When it shines, it sparkles as this country's athletes returned home draped in glory
00:05after conquering international arenas in Japan and Guyana.
00:09Olympic champion Keyshawn Wolcott finally added a world championship gold to his cabinet
00:15while Jareem the Dream Richards brought home silver from the track.
00:20And back on home soil, the Trinbago Knight Riders touched down with their record-extending fifth CPL title,
00:26reminding the region that the red, white and black still reigns supreme.
00:31To tell us more, here's James Saunders.
00:33Well, it's a buffet of sporting brilliance as the heroes are back in town.
00:39Keyshawn Wolcott, Olympic champion and 400-meter specialist Jareem the Dream Richards
00:42while they touched down at the Piako International Airport to a warm welcome,
00:47carrying home gold and silver from the world championships in Japan.
00:50Well, for Walker, this medal was the one missing piece of his glittering resume after 13 years in the sport.
00:58I've been telling myself this for, as you can see, 13 years,
01:02that I deserve this medal, that this medal belongs with the rest of the medals that I have.
01:08And, yeah, I had to wait. I had to wait. I had to be patient.
01:12Lots of injuries, lots of ups and downs, lots of time where I would tell myself that,
01:17you know what, maybe this is not it.
01:21As many days, me and my shopper would be there, and, you know, we'll say,
01:27I always remember him telling me that,
01:30maybe you're an Olympic child, and maybe everything is destined to be just Olympics.
01:35But we never gave up.
01:37We tried, we tried, and today I can stand here and tell myself that, yeah, I'm world champion.
01:42Well, the other champion boy, Jareem Richards, who won silver in the men's 400-meter,
01:48had a serious message for the fans as he called for more respect and support for track and field locally,
01:54and not only for the Olympics and world championships.
01:59The field needs support, not just financially.
02:02The people that, and we appreciate each and every one that would, you know, congratulate us and be proud.
02:07Be proud in the stadium, too, when we're competing locally, please,
02:11because we see the type of performances that comes with a full crowd.
02:16I love to see the support for football.
02:18I love to see the support for cricket.
02:20But when it comes to track and field, we have national championships, we have local meets,
02:25and no one is there.
02:26The only people that come to these meets are the parents of athletes,
02:32the friends of athletes, or the athletes themselves.
02:34You know, so if we expect athletes to do well, it needs to start from home.
02:40We need to support.
02:41We need to come out and support these athletes.
02:43So I think it's very important that, yes, we celebrate all these medals,
02:47but we need the groundwork.
02:49We need the people to come out here and support us.
02:53Well, message certainly approved.
02:54Well, I'll tell you what, the party is back in Port of Spain,
02:57and it belongs to the Trinbago Knight Riders.
02:59Fresh off their record-extending fifth CPL title,
03:02the men in red and black returned home to a hero's welcome,
03:06while the celebrations capped off a dominant campaign that silenced the critics
03:10and reignited the TKR dynasty.
03:14Trinbago Knight Riders beat Ghana Amazon Warriors by three wickets
03:17in their Republic Bank CPL final at Providence Stadium.
03:21It's now five titles for TKR.
03:22We await the arrival of TKR at the Piacco International Airport.
03:31Upon making their way to the front, the players were greeted by the sounds of TASA.
03:36Captain Nicholas Puran was holding the coveted trophy, his first in CPL,
03:41and that too as leader of TKR.
03:43Having won the 2025 Major League Cricket title with MI New York,
03:47and now the CPL,
03:49he was jokingly asked if captaincy was a piece of cake.
03:53I wouldn't say it's a piece of cake.
03:55Captaincy has a lot of stress and headache,
03:57especially around CPL time.
03:59A lot of expectations as well.
04:01But this last four weeks was amazing.
04:05Our group was a really special group.
04:07It makes it a lot of youth and experience.
04:09For me, the best T20 players in the world were a part of this journey,
04:11and for me, it was really easy.
04:13This victory stands right at the top for Puran,
04:16who had to wait for it to happen.
04:18According to the 29-year-old cricketer,
04:20it's a special moment for the people of the Twin Island Nation.
04:23Yeah, I mean, this week,
04:25it's really special for Trinidad, right?
04:26With the Republic Day being a couple of days away,
04:28obviously, the dream and Kisho Gham getting medals in the World Championship,
04:33and then for TKR to come and win the CPL.
04:35It's an amazing week.
04:36For us, obviously, the welcome back home has been really special for us.
04:40And I just feel like we just didn't win the CPL,
04:43but this was for the entire of Chennai and Tobago.
04:46The games we played here, everyone came out and supported us.
04:49And this month has been really nice.
04:51Team coach Dwayne Bravo tasted success as a player in the past,
04:54and now as coach.
04:56And he did have a message for the naysayers.
04:58The squad that we picked is because of the way how CPL panned out.
05:05It's a tough condition to play in Caribbean conditions.
05:09And I wanted to go for experience.
05:11And if you look at the squad, you know,
05:13at the start of the season, a lot of people never give us a chance
05:16because it's an old team.
05:18A lot of the guys gone past the best.
05:20But, yeah, all the noise, I don't take on.
05:25I'm aware of everything.
05:27You know, the Darren Bravo, the Colin Monroe.
05:30I'm aware of everything.
05:31But these guys I bring back specifically for a reason
05:33because they have success with this franchise over the years.
05:37The TNT franchise appeared in six CPL finals and won five
05:41with a solitary loss coming in 2023
05:44against the same opponents at Providence Stadium.
05:46Well, what a week in TNT sports.
05:52Congratulations to the third champion, Dwayne Bravo, as well,
05:54becoming the first player to win the CPL as a player and coach.
05:58Well, I've done that my bit.
06:00Send back all the good stuff to Disha.
06:02Thanks, James.
06:03Certainly a lot to celebrate.
06:04And congratulations are in from the prime minister
06:07to the nation's favorite franchise, cricket team.
06:10The timing, she says, could not have been better.
06:12In a stirring show of sportmanship, skill and shared determination,
06:17the Trinbego Knight Riders have claimed their fifth CPL title,
06:22marking a significant milestone in the 13-year history of the tournament.
06:26Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa congratulated the team
06:29on behalf of the government and people of TNT.
06:33She issued a statement applauding the entire franchise,
06:36from players and coaches to managers and support staff,
06:40describing the team as a symbol of dedication and competence.
06:44Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa praised the cricketers' discipline,
06:48the coaching staff strategy and the leadership that continues to drive the team forward.
06:54She said, quote,
06:55TKR's repeated accomplishments illustrate what is possible
06:59through steadfast purpose and diligence, end quote.
07:03Pesad-Besasa also highlighted the Caribbean Premier League's broader significance,
07:07not just as a cricket competition, but as a vibrant cultural event
07:12that unites the region in celebration and pride.
07:16And in a nod to national pride,
07:18Pesad-Besasa noted the timeliness of TKR's win,
07:22coming just ahead of Republic Day,
07:24and in the wake of international victories by Kishon Walcott
07:28and Jareem the Dream Richards.
07:30She said these accomplishments have enriched and inspired our nation.
07:36Meanwhile, former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,
07:39Dr. Keith Rowley, weighed in on the team's success,
07:42praising the Knight Riders for what he described
07:44as a shining example of resilience, unity and excellence.
07:49Dr. Rowley commended the leadership of Nicholas Puran
07:52and the brilliance of veteran Karan Pollard,
07:55while applauding the entire squad for playing with, quote,
07:58unwavering spirit and pride in the maroon and gold.
08:02He went on to say, quote,
08:04as a son of Trinidad and Tobago,
08:06I salute this victory, not just as a sporting achievement,
08:10but as a symbol of national pride, end quote.
08:14The former Prime Minister emphasized that the team's success
08:17has not only lifted spirits,
08:19but also inspired a new generation of young athletes,
08:23reminding us all that greatness is born from discipline,
08:27teamwork and belief.
08:29In closing, Dr. Rowley offered heartfelt congratulations
08:32to what he called the entire TKR family,
08:35saying simply,
08:36you have made history and you have made us proud.
08:39TKR captured the title on Sunday night
08:41when they defeated their first rivals,
08:44Guyana Amazon Warriors,
08:45by three wickets at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
08:48TKR became the second team in CPL history
08:51to win all playoff games.
08:53It was also the first time they won a final away from home.
08:58But their win did not come without criticism,
09:01with sporting gurus knocking management
09:03for choosing a team with comparatively older players
09:06and thereby robbing youngsters of the opportunity to play.
09:10Overshoot, Tamari Rucknerine, TV6 News.
09:16The TV6 People Meter, brought to you by XL Health TT,
09:20the official supplements of the CPL.
09:25Tonight we're asking you,
09:26do you expect these Achieve Moms to help TNT athletes
09:30to get better support for their training expenses?
09:33To vote, text dance or no to the number 766-4886
09:37or 766-4TV6.
09:39We'll have the results for you at the end of this newscast.
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