UKZN gunning for table tennis gold

THE UNIVERSITY of Kwazulu-natal’s table tennis team head into this week’s University Sports South Africa National Championships in Cape Town, gunning for gold.

The women’s team are defending champions while the men were silver medallists in 2018 after they were pipped to the title by the Tshwane University of Technology.

Led by the experienced Preshen Naidoo, the men have a familiar look to the team with Jeshkar Maharaj, Yashil Jaymangal and Prahlad Nair all retaining their places.

“It helps to have the same team as last year. We know each other well and there is a common drive,” Naidoo said.

UKZN won the team event in 2013 and were runners-up in 2015, 2017 and last year.

“We have always managed to send strong teams to the nationals. We are consistently producing young players and that is thanks to our strong development structures and academies in the province,” Naidoo said.

“It has been a good year for the sport and we are hoping to close

2019 with a big result, we expect the tournament to be very competitive with the likes of UCT and TUT boasting strong teams.”

Naidoo, who is completing his PHD in physics, said the quartet plan to employ an attacking approach.

“We are similar players in the way we go about the game. We cannot afford to sit on the back foot. We have to take our chances and execute,” Naidoo said.

Sara-lee Gobindlall was key to the women’s team triumph in Secunda, but she has since graduated and moved on. She’s been replaced by another South African player, Keshmika Sivnarain, who joins Shivani Naidoo and Shabile Mnyandu.

Although new to the university circuit, Sivnarain has plenty of experience under her belt.

The Pietermaritzburg local was a top ranked junior and is looking forward to transitioning into the senior ranks. Last year she represented South Africa at the African Junior Championships in the Ivory Coast.

“It is an honour to represent UKZN. I think we have a great team. We are excited and have all been working really hard,” Sivnarain said.

“I am positive that as a team we can make the university and the province proud. Being a national player, I plan to use my international experience and knowledge to help bring back gold in all our events.”

The competition runs from the tomorrow until Friday at the Belhar Sports Centre.