Aryans A rake in the top awards
The Aryans club celebrated a successful season at the Nelson Mandela Bay Table Tennis Union awards function.
Dipal Bhana and Michael de Kock were instrumental in Aryans A winning the premier league and knockout competition for a fourth consecutive year.
Bhana scooped the Nelson Mandela Bay closed men’s single championship, as well as the doubles with father Rajesh, while De Kock won the open men’s single title.
“It was a season of ups and downs, but considering the amount of practice we put in, I think we fared quite well this year, “Dipal Bhana said.
De Kock said a lot of hard work had gone into their achievements and he was proud to have been a part of it.
In the first league, Kabeer Choonara was the backbone in Aryans C’s success.
He was well supported by Younus Choonara, Prahlad Palmer, Jason Bailey and Mike Vaghmaria. Callies ace Xiuyan Li was the undoubted star of the evening, walking away with seven awards.
She was named top player in the premier league, also taking the open women’s singles, doubles and mixed titles.
The second league and club knockout competition went to CSL Damascus, with captain Claud Lawack supported by Bradley Solomon, Melvin Coetzee, Adrian Afrika, Shaandre Malgas and Keegan Jantjies.
Shahied Mamojee walked away with the players’ player of the year title for all the work he did, not only for the club, but in honing the skills of the youth.
Table tennis union president Prineshan Ryan acknowledged past president Thiagasen Pather and thanked Mamoojee, Younus Choonara, his executive and all the volunteers who handled the academy and league matches.
“I think we’ve had a great year as a union. Despite the challenges, we managed to make it a year where we have continued to grow,” he said.