Guyana managed to secure two medals to date in the on-going Caribbean Region Table Tennis Federation Mini and Pre-Cadet Championship being held in Kingston, Jamaica.
The wins came from the boys’ under-11 and under 13 teams with the girls falling just outside the podium spot but it was Dominican Republic who controlled the team competitions.
The boy’s under-11 at the podium for their third place position
The only title to escape their clutches was in the Under 13 Girls’ Team event, where the top prize finished in the hands of the Jamaica ‘A’ Team, selected from Kelsey Davidson, Selena Khwalsingh, Gianna Lewis and Solwsha Young.
A group organised event, the Jamaicans finished in first place ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Imani Edwards-Taylor, Priyanka Khellawan and Rebekah Sterling. Third place was reserved for the Dominican Republic trio formed by Dileisy Acevedo, Arianna Estrella and Shary Muñoz.
Meanwhile, in the Under 13 Boys’ Team event the Dominican Republic recorded a three-one in opposition to Trinidad and Tobago in the final.
Mainstay of the win was Marcos Tavarez, he accounted for both Jamili Mauge (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7) and Jalen Kerr (11-6, 14-12, 11-4). The win for the Dominican Republic was secured in the third match of the fixture when Oswaldi Reyes overcame Nicolas Lee (11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9); the one success for Trinidad and Tobago was gained in the opening contest when Jalen Kerr beat Christopher Rodriguez (11-3, 11-7, 11-3).
Earlier at the semi-final stage, with no changes to the line-up, the Dominican Republic had beaten Guyana’s Kaysan Ninvalle, Isiah Layne and Jonathan Van Lange by three matches to nil to regulate Team Guyana to a bronze medal. The local Under-13 side had earlier brushed aside Jamaica A, St Vincent and St Lucia all by 3-0 margins.
The Dominican Republic copped first place in the Under 11 Boys’ Team event. Eduardo Darley, Yoel Mendoza and Ramon Vila finished ahead of Jamaica ‘A’. Guyana’s team of Alexander de Abreu, Dhanesh Persaud, Krystian Sahadeo and Colin Wong placed third.
Attention now turns to the individual events and play concludes on Sunday 27th August. Meanwhile, Guyana’s coach Linden Johnson explained that “simple mistakes” resulted in the locals not doing better in the team events.
However, he expressed confidence of improved performances in the singles.
