National player Edinho Lewis showed off a wide repertoire of strokes whilst playing unbeaten to win the men’s Open singles when the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) senior and `C’ Class tournaments sponsored by Hopkinson Mining Company concluded last night at the National Gymnasium.
Playing in the four-man round robin finals, Lewis began his victory march with a come-from-behind win over national men’s singles champion Nigel Bryan and never looked back. The game was easily one of the better games of the tournament with Lewis showcasing his excellent retrieving skills whilst the two players thrilled the small crowd which included former national junior champion Garfield Wiltshire and current senior players Idi Lewis and Christopher Franklyn with their loops and counter loops.
Lewis dropped the first two sets 11-13, 6-11 but then won the next three games 11-8, 13-11 and 11-7.
He then defeated Brad Bell 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 before stopping Paul Meusa 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8.
Overseas-based Bell should be given some credit for being the only junior player in the last four. Fresh off winning the Mayor’s Cup junior title in New York, Bell, despite only arriving in Guyana a few days ago, acquitted himself quite well placing second with wins over Meusa and Bryan. The game against Meusa was a cliffhanger with Bell dropping the first two games 11-13, 6-11 after leading 10-7 in the first game. But showing good composure Bell came roaring back to take the next three games winning 11-8, 13-11, and 11-7. Bell’s forehand loop was quite vicious and he regularly sent his loop drives past Meusa with one shot a counter loop off of a Meusa backhand loop being the shot of the night.
Bell then defeated Bryan by three games to one. After dropping the opening game 4-11, Bell won the next three games 11-8, 11-9, and 11-5.
Bryan who defeated Meusa 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 was third and Meusa fourth.
Veteran player Colin France lost 1-3 to Lewis in the quarter-finals while national player Joel Alleyne was edged in five thrilling games by Bryan in the round of 16.
National female player Chelsea Edghill stopped Ayube Khan’s comeback attempt with a 3- victory but lost 1-3 to Meusa while southpaw Brandon Bell, Brad’s twin brother lost to Alleyne in the round of 16.
National junior player Shemar Britton, coached by Idi Lewis, on Saturday won the C Class competition after Raynor `Copter’ Anderson pulled up in the final match of the four person round robin final.
Britton defeated Patrick Triumph 3-1 (9, -6, -8, -5) and Bryton Murray 3-1 (7, -9, 6, 6) while Anderson defeated Triumph 3-0 (9, 7 and 10) and Murray 3-0 (7, 5, 5).
