Berbician Bryton Murray staked a strong claim to be in the final cut to represent Guyana at the Cadet and Junior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships scheduled for Cuba from April 3-9 when he played unbeaten at the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) junior trials on Thursday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The U-15 cadet player excelled in the round-robin competition defeating all six of his opponents to be almost a sure pick to represent his native land.
In his first match, Murray turned back the challenge of Joseph Johnson in a tough match-up that ended 3-2, winning 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 12-14 and 11-9.
He then faced Shemar Britton in another tough encounter that went to the wire and finished 3-2 in his favour at 11-7, 4-11, 5-11, 11-7 and 11-9.
The road only got tougher for Murray when he faced Elishaba Johnson who again carried him down to the wire in a 3-2 finish with scores being 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 2-11 and 11-8.
Murray then had somewhat of an easy battle with fellow Berbician Joshua Lallbachan whom he took out in four sets at 11-8, 8-11, 11-6 and 11-2.
Murray then faced off against Ryan `Smurf’ Narine and Scott Garraway whom he defeated 3-2 and 3-1 respectively.
Against Narine, Murray triumphed 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 6-11 and 11-7 and he won 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, and 11-4 against Garraway.
Joseph Johnson claimed the second position while Elishaba Johnson took the third spot.
In the Under-18 junior category which was contested in the same round-robin format, Stefan Corlette dominated all four of his opponents to be almost a “shoo in.”
Corlette defeated Sachin Panday 3-2 winning 5-11,7-11, 11-8, 11-9 and 11-8 before having an easy 3-0 11 9, 11-8,11-5 win over Sunil Logan.
He then eked out a tough 3-1 (17-15, 12-10, 15-17, 11-8) win over Samuel Fraser and a close 3-2 (11-9, 12-14, 10-12, 11-9 and 11-9) triumph against David Duncan.
Panday was second, Logan, third, Fraser, fourth and Duncan, fifth.
Meanwhile, in preparation for the Central Bank Table Tennis Championships in Jamaica, Bank of Guyana went under 0-5 to a mixed team comprising Miguel Wong, Niu Jinhui, Akecia Nedd, Mark Evans and Alex Hopkinson.
Results are as follows:-
Miguel Wong defeated Clyde Henry 3-0.
Niu Jinhui defeated Jody-Ann Blake 3-0.
Akecia Nedd defeated Imran Khan 3-1.
Mark Evans defeated Nicole James 3-1.
Alex Hopkinson defeated Leonard Butcher 3-2.
