For the first time in years the men’s doubles champions of the National Sports Commission (NSC) annual Mashramani table tennis championships are a pair of teeny boppers.
A pair of junior boys in Denzel Duff and Denzil Hopkison came from two sets down to defeat national player Edinho Lewis and compatriot Orin `Vege’ Hickerson in the final played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall last week-end.
After dropping the first two games 6-11, 8-11, the youngsters came roaring back to win the next three games 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 and snatch the title.
It was a unique honour for Duff who had earlier teamed up with Nigel Bryan to win the boys’ 18 years and under title by outlasting Hopkinson and Brandon Baldie 11-13, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7.
Duff made it three title wins when he `C’ Class event with a 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 12-10) win over Dwayne Gibson.
There were two title wins for Akecia nedd who first teamed up with Priscilla Greaves to defeat Chelsea Edghill and Olivia Weekes 13-10, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10 in the girls’ 18-years and under final.
Nedd then teamed up with Natalie Cummings to defeat Edghill and Lisa Lewis 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 5-11 and 11-9 in the women’s doubles.
The boys’ 18 years and under final will bet between top seed Nigel Bryan and Denzel Hopkinson.
In the semi-finals Bryan defeated Samuel Fraser 3-0 while Hopkinson got the better of Denzel Duff 3-2.
Meanwhile the men’s and masters categories were postponed to this weekend owing to the Level One accreditation course currently underway.
The course is being conducted by former Caribbean men’s singles champion, Sydney Christophe who is now an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) course conductor for level 1 coaches.
The programme concludes today
Is being held in a very interactive format where the 20 plus aspiring coaches could give their views on some of the points that were being made about varying aspects of the ITTF level one coaching manual.
The programme which will contain 30 hours of practical and theoretical training sessions, with 6 hours being dedicated to Paralympic sessions and is designed to benefit not just the Georgetown based players but also players out of the Capital city.
“My experience once they (the Coaches) start and complete the course 75% of them will stay in the sport and share their knowledge,” Christophe stated.
“I think with the talent and knowledge from the older players and coaches Guyana has, Guyana could be a force to reckon with, especially with the plans that the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has for the sport such as getting its own building and all these programs and tournaments that will be coordinated,” he added. “I would like to se the coaches use their knowledge and put away the certificate like a collection item,” Christophe ended.
