Commonwealth Games 2022: Cummings, Britton, Franklin make history for Table Tennis

…Misfortune in other disciplines

Team Guyana started and ended Day 8 of the 2022 Commonwealth Games on a high note, with wins and a bit of history made in the Table Tennis arena at the National Exhibition Center (NEC).

A resolute display from Natalie Cummings in the Women’s Singles, and Shemar Britton and Christopher Franklin in the Men’s Doubles, ensured they reach the Round of 16 of their respective divisions; somewhere the Table Tennis teams have never gone before at the Commonwealth Games.

The day began with Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill teaming up for the Mixed Doubles, while Natalie Cummings and Christopher Franklin did the same.

Both teams registered victories in the Round of 64; Edghill and Britton defeating Solomon Islands 3-1 and Franklin and Cummings enjoying a 3-0 victory over Fiji.
However, in the Round of 32, the teams fell prey to Malaysia 3-1 and Canada 3-0.
The success in Table Tennis continued to flow in other divisions, with Natalie Cummings advancing to the Round of 16 in the Women’s Singles. After topping her Round of 64 group, Cummings defeated Ruqayyah Kinoo of Mauritius in a gruelling 7-match affair. Cummings won 4-3, with the games going 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11 and 12-10.
Cummings will now turn her attention to Wales’ Anna Hursey in the Round of 16 today.
Further, in the Women’s Singles, Chelsea Edghill was not so fortunate, coming up short against Nigeria’s Offiong Edem. Edghill fought to force 6 matches, but eventually lost 4-2.
In the Women’s doubles, Edghill and Cummings defeated Fiji 3-1 to advance to the Round of 32. Later in the day, however, Britton and Franklin rode on the positive vibes of Cummings’s success to secure a Round-of-16 spot of their own.
Facing off with Mauritius’ Baboolall Muhammad and Brian Chan Yook Fo, the Guyanese duo romped to a resounding 3-1(11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6) victory in order to stay alive in the competition.

Athletics
Meanwhile, over on the track at the Alexander Stadium, Kenisha Phillips was the only Guyanese to advance to the 200M semifinals. Phillips stopped the clock at 24.13s in Heat 4 for 5th place, but advanced on time.
For the Men, Arinze Chance raced to a 22.22s finish in Heat 2, while Akeem Stewart crossed the line in 21.42s in Heat 1. Additionally, Noelex Holder reached new heights this season with a 21.77s run in heat 7. Nonetheless, the trio did not have good enough times to advance to the semifinal.
Heavy disappointment came in the Long Jump pit, as Emanuel Archibald was unable to announce himself in the Long Jump final.
Archibald registered a best jump of 7.54M in the anticipated final, which was only good enough for 11th out of 12 competitors.
The event was won by Laquan Nairn with an 8.08M leap.

Badminton
Another tough loss for Guyana came in the Badminton arena, where Narayan Ramdhani fought valiantly against Australia’s Ying Xiang Lin. Ramdhani eventually lost the Men’s Singles’ match 2-0.

Squash
For squash, Ashley Khalil and Mary Fung-A-Fat could not withstand the test of New Zealand’s defending Champions Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy, losing 2-0 in the Women’s Doubles round of 32.