Players from Bishops’ High and West Demerara Secondary Schools Sunday served and looped their way to bragging rights and championship glory at the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), National Sports Commission (NCS) 2019 National Schools’ Novices Talent Spotting and Elite Teams Table Tennis challenge at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Sunday.
Bishops’ High, comprising national youth players Jonathan Van Lange and Krystian Sahadeo, copped the Open elite boys team title by downing Chase Academy, who had the services of Jamal Nicholas and Kaysan Ninvalle 3-1 in a hotly contested final.
Chase had earlier defeated Mae’s 3-0 in the semi-final while Bishops’ edged St Stanislaus 3-2.
Meanwhile, the Novices Open boys’ teams title went to West Demerara Secondary who defeated Mae’s 3-1 in the final.
Linden ‘A’ and Islamic Trust shared the third joint prize following their semifinal defeats.
Mae’s ‘A’, won the Open girls’ novices round robin final, defeating Mae’s ‘B’ (second place) 3-0, St Mary’s High 3-0 (third place), Bishops’ High 3-2, Charlestown Secondary 3-0 and Friendship Secondary 3-0.
On the individual side, the highly skilled Ninvalle bounced back from a first set loss to defeat Dhanesh Persaud of West Field Secondary School 10-12, 11-7, 14-12, 11-7 in the Open elite boys singles final.
Ninvalle, en route to his title, defeated Jamal Nicholas 3-2 in the semis while Persaud overcame Isaiah Layne in straight sets.
Thuraia Thomas took the Open elite girls title by defeating Aneka Phillis 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in the final.
Thomas got her way against Nkechi McRae in the semis, winning 3-1 while Phillis defeated Jasmine Billingy 3-2 in their semi-final contest.
Tatyana Mohamed secured the Open girls’ novices singles title by beating Nikey Melville 11-8, 13-15, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11 in the final.
