Source: www.guardian.co.tt
The University of T&T’s (UTT) Curtis Humphreys, successfully defended his A1 title against Solo Crusader’s Andrew Alexander in the final of the National Classified Table Tennis Championships at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena (CRISA), Chaguanas, yesterday. After four sets, Humphreys proudly retained his crown with a score of 11-4, 13-15, 11-6, 11-9. He found a place in the final after overcoming four-time national champion, Reeza Burke relatively easily in the semifinal, 12-10, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5. Alexander of Solo Crusaders clinched his place in the final when he defeated fourth-seeded Terrell Abbott of UTT, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8.
Carnage Blasters’ duo Meshach Pillai and Michael Noel clashed in the A2 men’s division final. Pillai took the title after a nervy first two sets. The match ended 6-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9. In the first semifinal matchup, Pillai defeated Pentecostal Light & Life Tobago’s Orell Cooper, 11-7. 7-11, 11-9, 11-6. Crusader, Michael Fung could not respond to Noel’s three set win, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9. In the women’s A division final, Linda Boodhan of the Arima Hawks defeated UTT’s Astra Edwards in a highly competitive fixture, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9. In the semi-final, five set fixture, Boodhan was victorious against top seeded 16-year-old, Catherine Spicer, replacing last year’s champion Natalie Montes, who is absent from the fixtures, 11-7, 4-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-7. Edwards reached the final in a straightforward win over Renuka Sitram, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7, before bowing out to Boodhan.
The women’s B division finale saw an all-Arima Hawks set up with Brittany Joseph meeting Artienea Gregoire. Joseph finished the winner after five sets, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7. Gregoire booked a final’s spot after defeating Makela Fraser from Bishops, Tobago, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. Joseph lost her first set in the semifinal to Gyshan Lutchman but went on to finish comfortably, 12-14, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4.The T&T Table Tennis Association (T&TTTA) included a para’s event in the schedule taking place on Saturday, allowing for participation of handicapped persons. Gerard Asin took first place while Kesha Belfon and Olga Charles took second and third places, respectively.