Edghill, Duff take 13 years and under national table tennis titles

In an unbeaten run Edghill captured wins in all five of her matches en route to the title.

On the boys side, also playing without a loss, Jamal Duff took the boys 13 and under singles title.

In the 10 and under category, Jeremy Singh and lawn tennis player Kristie Lopes respectively captured the boys and girls’ singles titles.

Newly crowned National 13 years and under Singles Champion Chelsea Edghill prepares to launch her forehand return against her opponent yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. (Orlando Charles)

For Edghill her trend began when she easily took down Selena Jackman and Farida Yussuf in straight sets in the first round to advance to the final. There she produced three straight sets wins receiving the maximum six points to ensure her take of the title.

In the championship round, Edghill started off by defeating eight-year-old Neveah Clarkson 11 – 3, 11 – 4, 11 – 9. Next she captured a win against Jamaali Homer 11 – 4, 11 – 2, 11 – 7. Her final match was against Priscilla Greaves, who got the most points off Edghill while being defeated 11 – 5, 11 – 7, 11 – 9.

With two wins in the final round, Homer earned second place. She easily overcame Clarkson 3 – 0, while Greaves proved to be more of a challenge getting in a set as the match ended 3 – 1. Greaves was third with Clarkson being her only victim.

For Duff en route to his title he outclassed Elishaba and Joseph Johnson and Kyle Edghill in the championship round. Duff mowed down Elishaba 3 – 1, Joseph 3 – 2 and Kyle 3 – 0. Joseph was able to manage a second place finish after he bounced back with 3 – 1 wins against Kyle and Elishaba.

The younger brother of Chelsea, Kyle failed to reproduce his sister’s stellar performance and had to settle for third with only one win against Elishaba to counter his losses to Duff and Joseph.

Caught in a three-way tie with Clarkson and Jackman for the girls 10 and under title, Lopes was adjudged the best of the three on the grounds of the number of games won. Lopes defeated Sanasha Corlette 11 – 6, 11 – 3, 11 – 5, and conquered Clarkson 11 – 5, 11 – 6, 11 – 9. However the skills of Jackman were more than Lopes could handle and she found herself overpowered 3 – 1.

Jackman also ended with two wins and one loss, having seized another 3 – 1 win against Corlette, but lost in a four-set match to Clarkson.

Clarkson was the other party in the three-way tie but received third, while Jackman was given second.

Singh had another unbeaten run when he glided through the first round and continued the trend in the final. He trounced Akeem Nestor, second place finisher Khalid Gobin, and Miguel Wong. To earn his second, Gobin defeated Nestor and Wong.

Meanwhile, as the competition continued into the night yesterday, matches for the 15 and under and the 18 and under boys and girls singles were being contested.

Matches continue today with the doubles and mixed doubles for the junior categories. Next weekend will see the seniors plying their skills.