…-Romain is U-18 Champion

THE culmination of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Junior National championships at the National Gymnasium on Sunday saw the best saved for last with the match of the tournament, the Boys’ U-15 final between Kaysan Ninvalle and Niron Bissu.

It was end to end action as both gladiators with the racquet strove to seize upon the least advantage allowed by the other, however in the end Ninvalle prevailed to claim the title winning the match 3-2.

The first two sets were claimed by Ninvalle at 11-7 and 13-11.
Bissu, who represents the Titans Table Tennis Club, took the next two sets 11-6, 11-8, but went on to lose the final set at a disappointing 11-4.
En route to the final, Ninvalle defeated Johnathan Van Lange in straight sets of 11-1, 11-9 and 12-10, while Bissu took dispatched of club mate Isiah Layne 11-5, 10-12, 11-1 and 11-9.

On the distaff side of the Under-15 category, Navaeh Clarkston, produced a superb performance against Thuraia Thomas (U-13 winner) to claim top honours.
Clarkston won in sets of 11-2, 11-7 and 11-5. She also claimed the U-18 trophy which in which she dispatched of Thomas yet again. She won that match 11-8, 11-6 and 13-11.
In the Boys’ U-13 final, Van Lange managed to upset Ninvalle. It took five sets to eventually decide a winner.

Van Lange took the first two sets 11-9 and 14-12, but allowed Ninvalle to claw his way back with two set wins of 11-5 and 12-10. In the fifth and final set, Van Lange showed just enough determination and grit to defeat Ninvalle 11-9.
The U-18 Boys category had some upsets as title favourite Miguel Wong was knocked out by Bissu in the quarter-finals. However Bissu went on to lose to eventual champion Nickolas Romain in the semi-final.

Romain won the final against Jamal Nicholas in sets of 11-5, 11-7, 8-11 and 11-4.
Other winners of the three-day event which began last Friday (June 1) were Colin Wong (U-11), Jasmine Billingy (U-9 and U-11), Emmanuel Jeffery (Male Novices) and Shania Narine (Female Novices).