Commonwealth Games 2022: Women’s table tennis team exit at quarter-finals
…Coach Lewis praises team’s efforts
Like had obtained in 2018, the run of Guyana’s female table tennis team at the Commonwealth Games came to an end in the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Guyana’s team, comprising Chelsea Edghill, Natalie Cummings and Priscilla Greaves, went down 0-3 to Singapore yesterday at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England.
(L-R) Guyana’s Table Tennis team at the Commonwealth Games: Chelsea Edghill, Natallie Cummings, Prescilla Greaves and Thuaria Thomas
Thuraia Thomas did not feature against Singapore.
Guyana had finished second in their Group behind India, following commanding victories over Fiji and South Africa.
Against Singapore, the pair of Chelsea Edghill and Natalie Cummings faced Zhou Jing Yi and Zeng Jian and were defeated 11-5, 11-8, 11-6.
Olympic Bronze Medallist Feng Tianwei then brushed aside Prescilla Greaves 11-3, 11-1, 11-4.
Already up 2-0, Singapore’s Zeng Jian battled Edghill, and the World’s #60-ranked player easily defeated the Guyanese 11-5, 11-4, 11-2.
Since table tennis was introduced at the Commonwealth Games in 2002, Singapore’s only defeat in the team events was in 2018, when they lost to India in the finals.
Coach Idi Lewis, although lauding the Guyanese women’s performance, has added that with more support in Guyana, the results could be better.
“I thought the girls played amazing. There was nobody looking like us in the quarter-finals. We were seeded fourth in the group, we were supposed to finish last in the group; so, to come with such a low seeding and to finish second in the group…,” Lewis said.
He further noted, “Coming from under the current financial structure that we’re under, the financial constraints as far as budget goes (in regard to) preparation for these games, I think these girls have delivered way beyond what we’re experiencing and going through in Guyana.”
The focus now shifts to the singles competition, as coach Lewis again reiterates that, with the lack of resources, the females are still delivering.
On the sidelines, following his defeat to Singapore, Lewis has said that if the team can be properly prepared, they would be able to give themselves a chance at major tournaments like the Commonwealth Games. (By Rawle Toney in Birmingham (Team Guyana Press Attache)
