Veteran Tennis players excel at National Championships

With a combined age of 112 years, the pair of Truman Quashie and Robert Ballantyne rolled back the times to claim the Male Doubles title at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association’s National Championships.

The duo did so last Tuesday afternoon August 23, at the West St George Secondary School where they defeated Akeil De Roche and Sean Stanley three games to two in ding- dong battle.

Quashie and Ballantyne trumped 11/8, 9/11, 11/9, 8/11, 5/11.

Ballantyne added another title to his name when he got the better of David “Sky” Llewellyn, 11/3, 11/5, 11/5, to win the Masters’ Final.

Llewellyn had earlier partnered with Unica Velox to dismiss Stanley and Leah Cumberbatch  8/11, 11/7, 11/5, 11/9.

For Llewellyn, it was a welcomed achievement as he never thought he would have still been playing the sport.

Four years ago Llewellyn, who is based in the USA, experienced some medical challenges, but came through successfully.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT following his mixed doubles triumph, Llewellyn said: “ It feels good, just to be here and beating people younger than I am”.

The 62 year old said that his delight more so, was just to be part of the championships.

“Two hip replacement surgeries, learning to walk again, learning to play Table Tennis all over again and coming back from a stroke, just me competing at this level is a winner for me”, he related.

Llewellyn admitted that he was banking on the Male Open Singles title but was unable to put it together.

The veteran player who first represented St Vincent and the Grenadines 48 years ago, back in 1974, despite competing at the National Championships griped about some of what transpired.

Llewellyn holds the view that coaches should not compete against persons whom they coach.

“ Coaches bring players into the game then go and compete against them and (ethically) that should never be because how can you be teaching someone, know all their weaknesses and their strengths…”

Llewellyn stated categorically that he will never compete against a player whom he is coaching.

He pointed out that emerging from the championships are young, natural talents that need to be harnessed.