Raisethorpe siblings rally to the top in SA champs

RAISETHORPE Secondary School pupils, siblings Keshmika and Kivesh Sivnarain, pictured, excelled at the recent South African Junior and Senior Table Tennis Championships held in Klerksdorp.

Keshmika, 16, won gold in the U18 singles beating Musfiquah Kalam from Western Province in the final by 3 sets to love. She was also placed 3rd in the senior ladies’ section and was the only participant from KZN to have won medals in both the single divisions she played in.

Keshmika also won gold in team events, beating Gauteng in the finals, and silver in the U18 doubles section, losing narrowly to Western Province.

Her consistent performance and number one ranking makes her a regular in the South African team. She has represented the country five times since the age of 12. Her outstanding performances have been recognised by the Department of Sport and Recreation who have placed her in the Elite Athlete Development Programme.

Her younger brother, Kivesh, claimed the silver medal for the boys U15, after succumbing to Yukail Naidoo from Maritzburg College in a close final. He went on to win a gold medal in the team event, when KZN beat Eastern Cape in the final.

Kivesh and his partner, Tivaar Singh, won bronze in the boys U15 doubles, losing to the eventual winners of the doubles, Keenan Jooste and Nizaam Moosa from Western Province. His number two ranking also saw Kivesh represent the country in March at the 2017 All Africa Junior and Cadet Championship.

Kivesh and Keshmika are both thankful to Hilal Pillay from the uMgungundlovu Table Tennis Federation for coaching them.

“Proper coaching is vital if one wants to excel in any sport and I must thank my coaches for the excellent grounding they have given me,” said Keshmika.

“I hope to one day represent South Africa at the Olympic Games, but my dream does not end there. When I’m older I would love to give back to the sport and turn to coaching young players to be able to compete at an international level.”

Keshimika, who started playing table tennis seven years ago, realised she had a natural ability when she entered her first tournament after practising for just two days and ended up winning the tournament. That win made her join a club and she is now the number one player in her division in the country.