61st Seniors Caribbean Table Tennis Championship…
By Timothy Jaikarran
The action continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue as the 61st Seniors Caribbean Table Tennis Championship entered its final phase, with the athletes gearing up for today’s grand finale.
Starting off the action, the Guyanese team looked poised as they were more confident and hungry for the long lost gold medal that had eluded them from day one of the tournament. In the men’s singles event (first stage, 16 groups), advancing to the main draw of the competition were Nigel Bryan, Christopher Franklin, Elishaba Johnson, Edinho Lewis, Colin France, Brandon Belle and Shemar Britton, as they fell within the top two rankings of their respective groups. In the main draw, of the seven players that participated, five qualified for the next round.
Notable wins came from Nigel Bryan, who battled Samuel Delepine of Martinique, and won despite losing the first round 3-1 (7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8). Also qualifying was Christopher Franklin, who defeated the in-form Livan Martinez of Cuba 3-1. Colin France did likewise by defeating Derron Douglas of Trinidad and Tobago 3-1; while Shemar Britton dominated Martinique’s Fabrio Cosaque-Dit-Elie 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-7), and young Elishaba Johnson battled Mark Phillips of Jamaica and won 3-2 (11-10, 11-10, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4) in a thriller to highlight the day. The quarterfinals will continue today at 11:45 hrs.
For the women’s singles event (first stage- 7 groups) Guyana currently have six players who have qualified for the first stage of the women’s singles main draw. These athletes are Natalie Cummings, Priscilla Greaves, Aneka Phillips, Trenace Lowe, Navaeh Clarkston and Jody Ann-Blake.
Cummings was able to top her group as she made light work of Martinique’s Estelle Gourpil, defeating here 3-0 in both rounds. Priscilla Greaves defeated Dominica Republic’s Esmerlyn Castro 3-1 to maintain second position in her group. Aneka Philips also dominated her fellow Guyanese team mate Trenace Lowe 3-1. While Navaeh Clarkston and Jody Ann-Blake won their categories 3-1 and 3-0 respectively. The action will continue today at 10:00 am.
Guyana will be in search of their first gold medal as the competition culminates today.
