PE’s Bhana defends table tennis title
Port Elizabeth’s Dipal Bhana lit up the Feather Market Hall as he showcased his skill and guile at table tennis to successfully defend his title at the Callies 2018 Open Championships on Saturday.
Bhana, competing in the men’s singles section, was too strong for Michael de Kock as he eased past his fellow club and provincial teammate in their final meeting.
Bhana said he was chuffed with the win, considering the strong competition from across the country at the event.
Taking on George’s Garshen Williams in the semifinal, Bhana overcame his opponent with a score of 11/8, 11/7, 11/8.
“On paper, Williams was the stronger player, so that was a tough match for me, but I just went in and played my best game,” he said.
In the other semifinal, De Kock was involved in a tight tussle with Shaheid Mamoojee.
Mamoojee stretched the match to four games, but De Kock managed to beat him 8/11, 8/11, 11/4, 8/11, setting up an all-PE singles final.
In the final, Bhana and De Kock traded some lusty blows, but ultimately it was Bhana who took the match in three games, 11/8, 11/5 and 11/6.
The 2017 women’s singles champion, Xiuyan Li, met Eugene Stallenberg in the final, again claiming the win in her division with 11/2, 11/5.
Li said she was amazed at how the level of table tennis had grown in the country, and said the tournament was a testament to the hard work being put in by players.
The men’s doubles final was an all-Cape Town encounter in a match full of great entertainment and skilful play, with Frans Erasmus and Demos Dracoulides beating Daryl Williams and Ashley Martin 10/12, 11/9, 10/12, 7/11.
The mixed doubles final was a humdinger between Selvan Sammy and Li up against De Kock and Pumza Makiva.
Some tenacious play by Li and Sammy ensured a win with the score 7/11, 11/4, 11/8.
The boys’ final was between Rameez Waja and Cohl Simons of Queenstown, winner in 2016 and 2017. Simons emerged the victor with a score of 11/4, 9/11, 11/7.
The girls’ final was an allQueenstown affair between 2017 winner Nitaya McCuur and Renisha Jackson. McCuur beat Jackson 11/7, 11/8.
In the junior doubles final, Luthando Tromp and Edwaldo Jackson were put to the sword by Kyle Simons and Libran Hykes 14/16, 11/8, 9/11.
The boys’ plate final was won by Nikhil Naidoo, who beat Ra’ees Ketshewanetse 11/2, 11/9.