Asgarali wins 2nd Nationals singles title after 18 years

Khaleel Asgarali copped his second national men`s singles title – almost two decades apart – when he defeated Yuvraaj Dookram in the men's singles final of the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association National Seniors Tournament on Sunday at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua.

Representing Crusaders, the US-based Asgarali brushed aside Dookram 4-0 (11:7, 13:11, 15:13, 11:2) in the final. The clash was a lot closer than the scoreline suggested as Dookram of Queen`s Park (QPCC) squandered four opportunities to clinch the second game and several leads in the third game.

Asgarali held his nerve and showed his experience to win his first national singles title in 18 years.

Asgarali made himself available for national selection in 2022 after a long hiatus. He said after his victory, “I wanted to share my knowledge and level of the sport with the locals. It feels good to have won 18 years after winning my first title. The conditions were very tough but I was focused on the mission.”

Asgarali`s father Nazruddin won the veteran singles title on Sunday.

In the men's singles semi-final, Asgarali defeated US-based Derron Douglas (QPCC) 4-1 (12:10, 10:12, 11:5, 11:7, 11:6) whilst Dookram got past the tricky Alaric Humphreys (WASA) 4-1 (11:2, 11:4, 11:1, 4:11, 12:10). Asgarali defeated number-one ranked Aaron Wilson 4-1 (11:6, 4:11, 11:7, 11:4, 11:5) in the quarter-final round.

Imani Edwards-Taylor (QPCC) will come up against her national teammate and French-based Chloe Fraser (Crusaders) for the women's singles title. Edwards-Taylor held off Ambika Sitram (WASA) 4-2 (11:2, 2:11, 14:16, 11:3, 11:6) in the semis whereas Fraser defeated veteran Linda Partap-Boodhan (Tunapuna Hindu School) 4-1 (10:12, 11:5, 11:7, 11:5, 11:7).

Edwards-Taylor paired with clubmate Brittany Joseph to claim the women's double title over Partap-Boodhan and her daughter Rayanna Boodhan 3-1 (11:6, 8:11, 11:4, 11:6). In the previous round, the QPCC team of Edwards-Taylor and Joseph won against Powergen`s Priyanka Khellawan and Jannah Mohammed 3-1 (11:3, 11:5, 11:13, 11:4). The mother-daughter combination pulled of a thrilling victory over Chloe Fraser and Ambika Sitram 3-1 (11:9, 10:12, 11:9, 11:9) in their semi.

In the men's doubles semis, Dookram and Douglas will battle against the Humphreys brothers of WASA Alaric and Curtis whilst Crusaders' N`kosi Rouse and Anthony “Sandfly” Brown will play Arun Roopnarine and Reeza Burke of Arima Hawks.