…Cardo Williams rules the roost among the veterans
National junior table tennis players Colin Wong and Jasmine Billingy warmed up for the upcoming season by winning two categories each when the Guyana Committee of Services (GCOS) held its annual Mashramani competition at the world-famous Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion last Monday.
Guyana Committee of Services member Linden “Jumbie” Jones makes a presentation to Nigel Bryan (left) and Krystian Sahadeo recently at the GCC Club ahead of their trip to India
The tournament, which featured several categories, saw participants from East Coast Demerara and as far as New Amsterdam and was sponsored by Star Party Rentals, Payless Variety Store, and Roy’s Pharmacy.
Also capturing two divisions was former national footballer Vibert “Cardo” Williams, who ruled the roost in the veterans category.
Wong won the male open and 17-years-and-under titles from fellow national junior players Krystian Sahadeo and Malachi Moore while Billingy won the female open and U17 titles from arch-rival Samara Sukhai.
Williams was victorious in the male over-55 and 65 divisions.
While the tournament showcased a number of exciting matches, the pick of them all was the female open final where Sukhai took a two games-to-nil lead before Billingy came roaring back to win the next three games and snatch the title.
Sukhai won the first two games 11-8, 11-9 and narrowly lost the third 10-12, allowing Billingy a slight opening which she took advantage off by winning the next two games 11-5, 11-7.
Earlier in the girls’ U17 final, Billingy won 11-5, 11-7, 11-5.
A Watson and S Damon were joint third.
In the boys’ 17 and under final, Wong edged out Moore 3-2, with Sahadeo third and M Barran fourth while in the open division, Wong defeated Moore 12-10, 12-10, 11-7. Sahadeo and Williams were joint third.
Williams won the over-65 division by defeating Berbician Stanley Jones 2-0 in the final and in the over-55 final, he defeated another overseas-based player, Shaun Abrams in straight games.
The tournament was coordinated by national men’s singles champion Christopher Franklin.
Meanwhile, Sahadeo, along with Nigel Byran, a former national junior and senior champion, departed Guyana for India on Friday for a training stint. The stint was made possible by Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), whose president, Godfrey Munroe himself is a former national men’s singles champion.
Both Sahadeo and Bryan received assistance from the GCOS ahead of their trip to India. Presenting the sponsorship to the two players was Linden “Jumbie” Jones of the GCOS.
