ALREADY with a fast growing reputation after coming into the table tennis arena, just a little over a year, Titans Table Tennis Club player, 11-year-old Jonathan Van Lange once again proved why he’s one of Guyana’s brightest young prospects by adding another accolade to his ever-growing trophy cabinet.

This time the youngster teamed up with overseas-based Guyanese Shaun Abrams, Yuqiao Zou and Bandhu Paudyal in Division 10 of the Joola North American Team Championships being held at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland in the USA.
The quartet representing the Li Loeber Table Tennis Club won their division convincingly by first topping their group (Group 2) then dispatching Group 1 winners ‘Cidra 3’ in the final to claim the Division 10 title.

Each group had 8 teams and in their seven group stage matches, Li Loeber only lost once with Van Lange in particularly beastly form.
Li Loeber’s only loss was in their first match against the Maryland TTC who managed to defeat them 5-4. However, the quartet rebounded to win six matches on the trot, Nor’Easters 5-1, PW TTC 5-3, HWGF 5-3, HT TTC 5-3, Beasts 5-2 and an especially harsh thrashing of Los Marlins 5-0.

In the crushing victory over Los Marlins, Van Lange beat Gilianie Avila 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 and Luis Barbosa 11-4, 11-6 and 11-7 while Shaun Abrams inflicted a 11-6, 11-9 and 11-5 thrashing over the former. Abrams also defeated Jerall Montijo 11-7, 11-3, 9-11 and 11-9 while Yuqiao Zou also had 7-11, 11-2, 11-7 and 11-6 victory over Montijo.

When Li Loeber met Cidra 3 in the final, Van Lange and Zou were merciless. Van Lange was a picture of composure belying his youthfulness as he beat Luis Rivera 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 and Jesus Rodriguez 11-4, 8-11, 11-5 and 11-7.
Zou made light work of Eduardo Sanchez at 11-4, 11-7, 6-11 and 11-8 while he (Zou) beat Rodriguez in sets of 11-3, 14-12, 9-11, 12-14 and 11-6.
Abrams suffered the only loss against Sanchez at 12-10, 11-9, 3-11, 10-12 and 2-11. However he closed out Li Loeber’s victory with a 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9 and 11-9 win over Rivera.

Van Lange along with Titans teammate, Krystian Sahadeo, left Guyana’s shores last week for the United States of America where they will be participating in various competitions for the remainder of the year.

As Van Lange and Sahadeo compete, win or lose they will be placed in categories and earn USA ranking points. They will not be in any age category. Teams will be placed with other teams with similar rankings.
Both youngsters will be returning early January and are being accompanied by their parents.