Edghill grabs three more TT titles

- Duff takes another

Caribbean junior cadet table tennis champion, Chelsea Edghill pranced to three more titles yesterday while Denzel Duff strolled to victory in the 15 and under category despite being outplayed for the 18 and under title.

Edghill continued her unbeaten run in what was a fierce day of competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as the Vitamalt National Table Tennis Championships continued yesterday. The competition continued late into the night with the doubles and mixed doubles of the junior categories being contested.  In the girls 15 and 18 and under categories, Edghill played flawlessly adding those titles to the 13 and under championship she had won on Saturday.  In the round robin finals, Edghill battled to wins against Akeicia Nedd, US-based player Saskia Chung, and even bagged a victory against the 2008- 15 and under runner up, Adielle Rosheuvel.

Denzel Duff (right) makes a mean return during his rally against Samuel Fraser in a match up in the boys 15 and under category. (Photo by Orlando Charles)

Against Nedd, Edghill prevailed after a tough five set match, that ended 11 – 9, 4 – 11, 11 – 9, 3 – 11, 7 – 11. She then rolled over Chung disposing of her in three sets ending 11 – 2, 11 – 3, 11 – 6.

Rosheuvel was Edghill’s last victim, and while she tried to claw her way to victory, continual lapses saw her giving away too many easy points to Edghill, and the game ended 11 – 6, 12  -10, 12 – 10. Rosheuvel, however, finished as the runner-up while Chung came third and Nedd, fourth.

Nedd got a second chance to challenge Edghill in the battle for the 15 and under title, but once again failed to impress as she was tossed aside by Edghill on a 11 – 6, 11 – 3, 11 – 5 victory for Edghill. Edghill also walked over Olivia Weeks 11 – 8, 11 – 4, 11 – 5, and Priscilla Greaves 11 – 7, 11 – 8, 11 – 6.

Nedd was runner-up, Greaves third and Weeks- without a win in the finals – had to settle for fourth position. Edghill also retained the title for the 15 and under doubles partnering with Jamaali Homer.

Meanwhile as the boys 18 and under played out yesterday, 2008 15 and under champion, Nigel Bryan, Brad Belle and Duff found themselves in a three way tie after winning two games each in the round robin finals.

However, based on the number of games, Bryan prevailed as the champion having won five games and losing four and ending with +1. Brad came second, ending with zero having won five games and losing the same amount. With -1, Duff settled into third place having won four games and losing five. Brandon Baldie ended in fourth position.

Duff roared back in the 15 and under category, toppling the Belle twins, Brad and Brandon. Dubbed the Serena and Venus Williams of table tennis in New York, the Belles’ were swung out of orbit by Duff, who in a scintillating five set finals match up, defeated Brad 13 – 11, 7 – 11, 12 – 10, 4 – 11, 12 – 10, having brought Brandon to his knees, earlier in the first round.

Duff played unbeaten in this category and took the champion title. David Duncan was second, Kevon Corbin third and Samuel Fraser came fourth.