TEENAGE sensation Jonathan Van Lange and the ever-improving Akira Watson surged to two titles when the National Sports Commission/Guyana Table Tennis Association Mashramani Table Tennis Tournament was played at the National Gymnasium over the weekend.

Other winners included Natalie Cummings, Orin Hickerson, Jasmine Billingy, Malachi Moore, Chase Outar, Darius Daniels, Aadil Haniff and Zion Hickerson.

In the Men’s Singles, without the likes of reigning National champion, Christopher Franklin, or Former Caribbean U-21 champion Shemar Britton, the title was Van Lange’s for the taking.

He faced a challenge from senior national player Joel Alleyne in the final, but in the end he emerged victorious, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (3-0).

In the semi-finals, Van Lange was tested by Orin Hickerson. The game could have gone either way, with Hickerson using his experience to counter the exuberance of the eventual champion.

Van Lange eventually won 3-1, however, the first three games went down to the wire (12-10, 12-10, 9-11 and 11-3).

In the other semi-final, Alleyne defeated Elishaba Johnson in another very close encounter. That clash ended 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 14-16 and 11-9).

Van Lange’s other victory came in the 19-and-Under Boys division, when he defeated Colin Wong 11-5, 11-8, 11-8. Third place went to Uman Percival (who lost to Vanlange) and Ebo McNeil (who lost to Wong).

Natalie Cummings also surged to victory when she competed in the Women’s Singles against some up-and-coming youngsters. She defeated Billingy 3-0, Thuraia Thomas 3-1 and Samara Sukhai 3-0.

Billingy finished second after beating Thomas and Sukhai 3-1 each, while Thomas placed third.

In the “B” Class Open final, Orin Hickerson defeated Levi Percival 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8 (3-1), while joint third places went to Niran Bissu (who lost to Hickerson 0-3), and Colin France (who lost to Percival 2-3) in the semis.

National U-21 champion, Billingy surged to the 19-and-Under title, while Sukhai finished second and Watson third.

Watson held her own in the younger age group, with wins in the 15-and-Under and 13-and-Under.

In the older age group, she defeated Billingy in the semi-final and Sukhai with a come-from-behind win in the final (10-12, 11-7, 11-8 and 11-3).

Billingy and Seona Barker finished joint third.

In the 13-and-Under Girls round-robin finals, Watson also came out on top. Billingy finished second and Sukhai third.

In the 15-and-Under Boys’ final, Malachi Moore defeated Ebo McNeil 11-5, 11-9, 5- 11, 13-15 and 11-8. Joint third place went to Zion Hickerson and Chase Outar.

Outar came out on top in the 13-and-Under Boys’ final, after he defeated Darius Daniels 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8. Joint third place went to Kayden Meusa and Ransfield Belfield.

Daniel and Zion Hickerson also won titles. Daniel defeated Zion in the 11-and-Under Boys final (9-11, 11-7, 13-11). Noel Persaud and Aaron Hopkinson finished joint third; while in the Nine-and-Under Open, Zion defeated Raina Benfield 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 in the final.

Meanwhile, in the Novice final, Aadil Haniff defeated Jadon D’Aguiar 13-11, 11-2, 12-10; joint third places went to Shane Razak and Musab Hassan.

The presentation of prizes is scheduled for this afternoon (Wednesday, March 1) at the National Gymnasium from 17:00h.