Another nifty showing by the dynamic Jonathan Van Lange landed him the boys Under 15 and 18 titles in this year’s Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) junior and cadet championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) yesterday.
The 12-year-old secured both titles by defeating his nemesis Kaysan Ninvalle in both finals to journal yet another classical exchange between the duo.
Both players came out looking sharp in the under -18 final which preceded an exciting Under – 15 grand finale between the two.
However, it was Ninvalle who drew first blood by winning the first set 11-8. Van Lange struck in the second and turned a 5-2 lead into 11-7 second set win.
Van Lange, with the confidence of having the Under – 15 title in grasp, made it 2-1 by winning the third set 11-5 and etched closer to the capturing the double which he completed by taking fourth set 11-6.
Earlier, Van Lange won his Under – 18 semi-final 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 against Krystian Sahadeo while Ninvalle bested Niran Bissu 11-2, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6.
The duo, who are two of Guyana’s most promising prospects, had 10 minutes earlier met up in the Under – 15 final which yielded a similar result with Van Lange countering spurts of brilliance from Ninvalle to take the title: 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, dethroning the 2018 champion in the process.
Van Lange en route to the Under – 15 final defeated Isaiah Layne 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4. Ninvalle, on the other hand, edged out Sahadeo 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, and 11-5.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Thuraia Thomas was equally as impressive in this year’s championships, also serving her way to championship honours in both the girls Under – 15 and 18 categories.
Thomas in the Under – 18 final, looked a bit more desperate for success as she defeated Nevaeh Clarkson 3-0. It was a purposeful display by the young woman, working her way past the 2018 winner 11-8, 11-8, 11-8. Thomas overcame Jasmine Billingy 3-0 in her semi-final match while the naturally gifted Clarkson, who looked a bit rusty, was tested in her semi-final match which she won against Aneka Phillips 3-2.
Thomas earlier in the day, took the girls Under – 15 title by defeating Crystal Melville – an emerging player who continues to make a statement having only joined the sport a few months back.
Thomas nonetheless took the match; 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 to clinch the 2019 crown. The semis saw the eventual winner working her way past Billingy 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 while Melville booked her spot in the final with an 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 win over Christine Ramdial.
