Eleven-year-old Jonathan Van Lange was comfortably the most dynamic player in the Titans Table Tennis Club ‘Slammer Rammer’ tournament after he slammed his way to three titles including the coveted ‘B’ class crown at the Marian Academy Auditorium, last evening.
The day also saw female players Thuraia Thomas and Jasmin Billingy capturing multiple titles.
It was Van Lange, however, who was most ominous on the day. He defeated Miguel Wong 11-5, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6, an upset of sorts, in a low-key ‘B’ class final to enhance his growing reputation.
Both players endured testing semifinal matches with the eventual champion downing Isaiah Layne 20-18, 11-8, 11-9 while Terrence Rausch took Wong five sets before losing 14-12, 12-10, 7-11, 5-11, 17-19.
The ‘B’ class final preceded the boys Under – 18 final, which landed in the hands of Van Lange, who got his way with Rausch, defeating him 12-10, 11-9, 11-8.
Van Lange and Rausch in their semifinal matches defeated Krystian Sahadeo and Layne in straight sets.
One of the most exciting matches of the day, however, saw the southpaw Layne defeating Dhanesh Persaud 3-1 in the boys Under – 15 final.
It was a sterling effort from Layne, who dropped the first set 8-11 but rebounded well to capture the next three sets 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 to take the crown.
Layne in his semifinal match defeated Sahadeo 11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8 while Persaud had the better of Colin Wong 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 14-12.
The boys Under – 13 final was equally as exciting with top honours going to Caribbean U13 boys doubles silver medalist, Van Lange, who defeated Sahadeo 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8 in a hard-fought contest.
Meanwhile, the boys Under – 11 final went to the national Under- 11 champion, Wong, who worked his way past the feisty Persaud 12-10, 11-6,11-9 to avenge his earlier defeat.
Jasmine Billingy, on the other hand, fortified the general consensus of being one of Guyana’s brightest prospects after defeating the equally talented Malachi Moore 11-9, 7-11, 11-9 in the Open under – 9 final.
Before then, she eased her way past her clubmate, Samara Sukhai 11-4, 11-5 in the girls Under – 11 final.
The eight-year-old Billingy in her third final of the day was defeated by Thuraia Thomas 11- 5, 11-6, 11-4 in the girls Under – 15 final – a match where she punched above her weight.
Thomas also won the girls Under – 13 title by default after Nkechi Mc Rae failed to show up for yesterday’s encounter.
Thomas went on to taste more success by capturing her third title of the day after she found a way to defeat the menacing Nevaeh Clarkson 6-11, 11-4, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 in the girls Under – 18 tussle.
