62nd Caribbean Seniors Table Tennis Championships: Team Guyana secures bronze

The action in the teams’ section of the 62nd Caribbean Seniors Championships saw Team Guyana’s men and women bow out in the semifinal stage of the tournament, automatically securing a bronze medal as both teams lost 3-1 to their respective opponents.

The female team consisted of Chelsea Edghill, Priscilla Greaves and Natalie Cummings, while the male team consisted of Shamar Britton, Jonathan Van Lange and Christopher Franklin.

Semifinal action
The ladies were the first to take the fight to the mighty Cubans, but while they did play their hearts out, they could not withstand the fiery intensity brought by their opponents. Cuba was able to win 3-1.
Chelsea Edghill was the only winner in her group, as she won the first game against Idalys Lovet 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7). Natalie Cummings and Priscilla Greaves were unable to win their matches despite Guyana having the lead in the opening game, as they lost 3-0. When Edghill returned to the action, she needed to win, but lost 3-0 to Karia Perez to halt the ladies’ journey.
The fortunes of the men patterned those of their lady counterparts, as they lost 3-1 to Puerto Rico. Christopher Franklin opened the game for Guyana and lost 3-0 to Oscar Birriel. Shamar Britton then gave the team some hope with a win of the second game 3-0 to level the score, as he defeated Richard Pietri. While the men did put up a good fight, the Puerto Ricans were in it to win it, as they made light work of Jonathan Van Lange and Britton and Franklin who played the other games.

Women’s team quarterfinal
After losing out to Puerto Rico 3-0, the women’s team bounced back with a hard-fought win over Trinidad and Tobago to book their spot in the semifinal. Their victory did not come easy, as they pipped Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 to bag second place.
In match one, Chelsea Edghill won 3-0 over Imani Edwards. The rounds flew quickly as Edghill won 11-3, 11-8, 11-4. Natalie Cummings lost to Rheann Chung 3-1. Cummings lost 13-11, 11-8, 11-6 despite winning only one game 11-8. Priscilla Greaves also lost to Chloe Fraser 3-0, the scores read 11-4, 11-9, 11-9.
Trinidad had the upper hand, but the Guyanese contingent bounced back when Chelsea Edghill and Natalie Cummings bagged the other two games 3-0.

Men’s team quarterfinal
The men also booked their spot in the semifinal after a hard-fought win over Barbados 3-2. After winning one against Haiti, they lost the other to Cuba.
In match one, Christopher Franklin was dispatched 3-0 by Tyrese Knight. He lost 11-9, 11-8, 11-6. Shamar Britton then bagged the next game for Guyana 3-0 over Kevin Farley, as he won 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.
Jonathan Van Lange then recorded Guyana’s second win 3-2 as the youngster won his games 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, despite losing two games 11-6 and 11-9.
The Barbadians levelled things when Knight defeated Britton 3-1 (11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8), but Franklin held on for the win over Farley 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-6).
The players will now turn their attention to the singles category of the event, which will commence today.