Guyana’s table tennis delegation participating in the qualifiers for the forthcoming Central America and Caribbean Games made an impressive start on Wednesday, the opening day in Havana, Cuba.
Trenace Lowe was the highlight of the opening day as she recorded two critical wins over Mabelyn Enriquez and Andrea Montufar, as Guyana got past Guatemala 3-2.
The contest against Enriquez presented a stern test for Lowe after she won the first two sets 14-12, 11 – 6, only to drop the next two 9-11, 7-11. However, she held her nerve to take the final set and the match 11-9, and carried the momentum into her second contest to trounce Montufar in straight sets, 11-5, 11-5, 11 -5.
Natalie Cummings was also in top form when she took to the table, registering a victory over Andrea Estrada by three sets to one; 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9, in the opening fixture of the tournament.
The other Guyanese, Jodyann Blake, however, surrendered her match 7-11, 6-11, 9-11 when she played against Montufar, while Cummings and Blake lost to Mabelyn Enriquez and Estrada by a 3-2 margin: 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 4-11, in the doubles match.
Guyana’s men’s team also enjoyed a successful opening day in the first team’s match against their St Vincent & the Grenadines counterparts.
National Open champion, Christopher Franklin first took the table and served his way pass Carlton Daniel 11-6, 11-6,11-6, before returning later to also cruise past Romano Spencer by a similar 3-0 margin.
Meanwhile, 19-year old Shemar Britton also had an easy three-set win 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, over Kavir Gaymes, as Nigel Bryant’s 3-0 win over Daniel completed the clean sweep.
The Guyanese, however, endured a much sterner battle in the doubles matchup where Britton and Bryant shaved pass Gaymes and Spencer by a 3-2 margin to bring the curtains down on a successful opening day. (Royston Alkins)
