Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s team advanced to the finals of the Team division yesterday, as the 54th Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Federation Championships continued in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The local contingent stormed into the championship match after defeating the hosts 3-1 in a heated semi-final clash. Seasoned professional, Dexter St Louis blew past Samuel Galvez 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 and Emil Santos 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 while Curtis Humphreys clinched a 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 14-12 win over Isaac Vila. Emil Santos was too much for Arun Roopnarine as he went down 7-11, 7-11, 6-11 in their meeting.
The TT Men’s team was scheduled to face Barbados in the championship match at 5pm yesterday, but up to press time results were not yet available. Barbados beat Puerto Rico 3-2 in the other semi-final.
In the women’s equivalent, TT were placed fourth after they were ousted by Puerto Rico 1-3 in Round five of the round robin. Rheann Chung was the only local to have recorded wins after she overcame Maria Maldonado 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-2 and Nicole Torres 11-1, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7. Linda Partap-Boodhan went down to Torres 11-9, 11-3, 8-11, 6-11 and Maldonado 11-13, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 3-11 while Ashley Quashie lost to Lizette Maldonado 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 7-11.
The local women also failed to get past Dominican Republic 1-3. Chung was again the lone victor with a win against Eva Brito 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 but lost her clash with Johenny Valdez 11-8, 5-1, 6-11, 6-11. Quashie also fell victim to Valdez 1-11, 3-11, 7-11 while Partap-Boodhan went under to Lineth Vila 4-11, 8-11, 11-9, 4-11. Mixed doubles were also expected to begin last night. The Men and Women doubles, Men 40-45, Men 46-50, Men over 50, Women 45 and over, Boys Under-21 and Girls Under-21 will all begin today.
By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH
Source: www.newsday.co.tt