Keep-fit tournaments get SVGTTA’s calendar going

Michel Creese, Akeil De Roche and Dureese Nelson have tasted success thus far, when the St Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association (SVGTTA) held its two keep-fit tournaments for cadets, pre-cadets and juniors at the West St George Secondary School.

In lifting his first of two titles in the Under-13 age group, Creese had seen off Caleb Howard 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10 in the final.

Meanwhile, De Roche beat Juwan Howard 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, to win the Under-15 finals in the first week of the tournaments.

The budding table tennis players returned to the West St George venue to again test their skills on the green table last Saturday, but there was the changing of the guards in the Under-15 bracket.

Trumping was Dureese Nelson, who defeated Joshua Joseph in the final 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 13-11, 8-11, 14-12).

Both Nelson and Joseph in the semis, ensured that neither of the previous week’s finalists got another shot at the title.

Nelson dismissed De Roche 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12 and Joseph beat Juwan Howard 12-10, 11-7, 11-7.

However, Creese kept his stranglehold on the Under-13, with a second triumph in consecutive weeks over Caleb Howard.

Creese overcame Howard 4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10.

In their semi-finals play, Creese and Howard had straight set wins over their opponents.

Creese ousted Antwan Tannis 11-1, 11-3, 11-6 and Howard bettered Kristian Christopher 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.

Following last Saturday’s keep-fit tournament, the cadets, pre-cadets and juniors, along with the seniors, contest the National Championships on March 16, 17, 23 and 24 and the Independence tournament October 24- 26.

Other events slated for completion are the inter-church competition, set for February 12-20; the National Heroes Month Open on March 9 and 10; as well as the Beverley Warren Memorial Open, May 19.

The Firms and Industrial Championships are carded for November 5 to 14. However, the dates for the schools’ championships and the training camps for cadets, pre-cadets and juniors are yet to be determined.

Regionally, the SVGTTA is expected to be represented at the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation’s cadet and junior championships in Cuba, April 2-7, as well as the senior championships in Jamaica, September 24-29.

The CASCO qualifications in Cuba, February 26 to March 5 and the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, April 2 to 17, are listed for participation by the SVGTTA.