Caleb Howard defeated defending champion Tykel Pierre on Friday afternoon January 26, 3 sets to 1 to win the 2024 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College Open Individuals Table Tennis Competition, at the Villa Campus.

Winning the final also confirmed Caleb Howard as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ top national junior male player.

It was a battle of second year students at the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies, with Howard taking four sets to complete the championship match against the defending champion, Tykel Pierre. However, it was Pierre who got out the blocks first with an aggressive approach that earned him the first set 11-6.

Howard responded with an assault on the back hand of Pierre which proved successful, as he pulled level with an 11-8 second set victory. Despite all the efforts of Pierre, Howard exerted his control on the remainder of the match winning the next two sets 11-4, 11-7, and the 2024 title.

Earlier in the afternoon, en-route to the title, Howard defeated Macahlie Hazelwood 11- 9, 11-6, 11-7 in the quarter-finals, before winning in straight sets against Kimoni Shoy 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 in the second semifinal.

Tykel Pierre, the 2024 runner-up, earned his place in the final after beating Jelani Cumberbatch 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 in their quarter-final match-up before beating Lamont Gregg 11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11- 3 in semifinal number one.

Lamont Gregg took the bronze medal with a 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 win over Kimoni Shoy in the third place play off.

Jessica McCarter was adjudged the most improved female player, while Machalie Hazelwood took the similar award in the male category.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sports Department now turns its attention to the 2024 Invitational Basketball Competition, which is scheduled to begin today Tuesday January, 30, at the Villa Campus courts.