GUYANA’s top female table tennis player Chelsea Edghill lost her top 16 battle yesterday afternoon, which knocked her out of the singles competition at the Latin American Singles and Mixed Doubles Qualification tournament in Rosario, Argentina. After winning her morning match, the former Caribbean U21 champion looked ready to enter the quarter finals, but she was stopped by Guatemalan Mabelyn Enrique 4-2. The Central American player might not have been as energetic as the Guyanese, but she was composed and measured and playing within her abilities, which saw scintillating spins and forceful returns. Edghill, who is a Lourosa Portugal semiprofessional player, had several unlucky bounces throughout the game and she was able to return well from her opponent’s serves. Her second set, which saw her blowing away Enrique 11-2 proved her dominance, but in the end Enrique was able to make the necessary adjustments and wrest back control to win: 11-8, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8.

The loss means that Edhgill will not get a chance to represent Guyana at the Tokyo Olympics in the singles event.
After the game, the 23-year-old issued a heartfelt social media post where she thanked those who supported her on her journey.
“The dream of playing in singles at the Tokyo Olympics is over for me. Thanks to all the people who made my preparations enough to compete at this level.” She thanked Coach Idi Lewis for his guidance, Table Tennis veteran Sydney Christophe for his support, the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) for the opportunities and her parents for always believing in her.
To reach the top 16 battle in the Women Singles, she had defeated Paraguayan Leyla Gomez 4-1 (11-8, 11-7, 17-15, 7-11 and 11-5).
Natalie Cummings also fared well in her second chance at the singles yesterday morning, but she could not get past Ecuadorian Nathaly Paredes.

Cummings lost the first two sets by close margins, which took the wind out of her sail, although she battled back to win twice, it was not enough, the game ended in Paredes’s favour (13-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11 and 11-6). Another former U21 Caribbean champion, Shemar Britton, also looked solid, but he could not get past Colombian Alexander Echavarria in the Round of 32. Britton lost 2-4 (5-11, 11-4, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8 and 4-11). Joel Alleyne also bowed out in his round of 32, when he faced Venezuelan Cecilio Correa. That match ended 4-1 (11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 and 11-3).
Tomorrow, Edghill and Britton will partner in the mixed doubles competition with the hope of qualifying for Tokyo.
They are scheduled to challenge the Ecuadorian pair of Nathaly Paredes and Alberto Mino in a Round of 16 battle.