Fraser, 14, wins national women's singles

SHERDON PIERRE

Chloe Fraser won her first national senior women`s singles title of the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association National Seniors Tournament 2023 on Tuesday at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

The 14-year-old Fraser representing Crusaders defeated Imani Edwards-Taylor of Queen`s Park (QPCC) in straight games in the final (11:4, 11:6,11:9, 11:9).

Fraser, who has been training in France for the last year, will be returning to Paris next month to continue her training. Edwards-Taylor,17, has been consistent over the last year in senior tournaments with this being her fourth successive silver medal in women singles.

In the semis, Fraser defeated veteran Linda Partap- Boodhan (Tunapuna Hindu School) 4-1 (10:12, 11:5, 11:7, 11:5, 11:7) whilst Edwards-Taylor held off Ambika Sitram (WASA) 4-2 (11:2, 2:11, 14:16, 11:3, 11:6)

In the men`s doubles final, the Arima Hawks pair of veteran and multiple champion Reeza Burke and Arun Roopnarine held their nerves at the end to win a thriller against QPCC`s Yuvraaj Dookram and Derron Douglas 3-2 (11:8, 5:11, 5:11, 12:10).

In the previous round, Burke and Roopnarine got past former national champion Anthony “Sandfly” Brown and N`Kosi Rouse. Douglas and Dookram defeated the Humphreys brothers Curtis and Alaric of WASA 3-1 (9:11, 11:4, 11:9, 11:4).

French-based Malik Gopaul of Crusaders did the double in the Boys U15 and U18 singles over the weekend. On both occasions, Gopaul faced the same opponent in Carenage Blasters` Gabriel John.

Gopaul won a close U15 final 3-2 (12:10, 11:8, 8:11, 7:11, 11:8) and the U18 final 3-1 (13:11, 3:11, 11:9, 6:11). Jonathon Cottoy and Josiah Joseph were both bronze medallists in the U15 category whilst Joseph and Nicholas O`Young (Carenage Blasters) placed third in the U18 category.

Fraser followed her teammate Gopaul in completing the doubles in the Girls U15 and U18 categories. She defeated Lyllana Boodhan (Tunapuna Hindu School) 3-0 (11:3, 11:5, 11:2) in the U15 final. Jerisse Elder (Oxford) and Jordan Thang (QPCC) were the third-place finishers.

The Girls U18 final was yet another battle between Fraser and Edwards-Taylor and this was perhaps the closest match of the entire tournament. Fraser pipped Edwards-Taylor 3-2 (11:9, 9:11, 11:5,10:12, 12:10). Mikah Stroude and Boodhan were the losers in the semis.

The tournament concludes on Thursday at the Centre of Excellence with the finals of the division one, two and three teams starting at 6pm.