Reeza Burke and Astra Edwards-Bennett were crowned new champions of the men and women's Open Division in the Silver Bowl Table Tennis Tournament at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas, yesterday. In the men's final, Burke of Arima Hawks whipped Solo Crusaders' Andrew Alexander, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7. Earlier on in the semi-final round, Burke, also the East Zone president battled past Under-13 champion, Aaron Wilson of Carenage Blasters 9-11, 11-1, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8 and Alexander stopped veteran player Lionel Darceuil of Hawks' 11-8, 11-8, 11-8. Last year's winner, Curtis Humphreys' was stopped by Burke in the quarterfinals.
The women's final was a family affair as Astra Edwards-Bennett of Woodbrook Gladiators stunned older sibbling and former national champ, Aleena Edwards in straight sets, 11-7, 13-11, 12-10 to claim the title left vacant by Natalie Montes. Edwards-Bennett reached the final after she defeated Linda Partap-Boodhan of Hawks' 9-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 and Edwards eased past Ashley Quashie of Carenage Blasters 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6. On Saturday, Wilson and Brittany Joseph won the Under-13 Division titles.
In an all-Blasters final, Wilson outclassed clubmate Marc Pillai 11-3, 11-7, 11-5. Earlier on in the semi-final round, Wilson powered past Amresh Mungal (Powergen) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 and Pillai ousted Daniel Henriques of Maloney Tigers 11-8, 11-5, 11-5. Joseph of Arima Hawks won the girls' Under-13 for a second year running when whipped Guyana's Priscilla Greaves 11-3, 11-6, 11-5. In the last-four clash, Joseph batted past Gyshan Latchman of Cunupia Crew 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3 and Greaves came from 0-2 down to beat Jasher De Gannes 7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7.
De Gannes of St Andrews, Tobago had earlier won the girls' Under-10 title when he overcame Chelsea Fong of Blasters 11-5, 11-8, 11-5. De Gannes reached the final after she defeated Guyana's Neveah Clarkston 11-2, 13-11, 11-6 while Fong booted Shanekah Johnson 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8. Brandon Lee Young emerged the winner of boys' Under-10 tourney. Lee Young of Maloney Tigers got the better of Roberto Johnson of Speyside, Tobago 11-2, 11-5, 12-10. In the semi-finals, Lee Young eased past Jakeem Welch 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 and Johnson brushed aside Messiah Walcott, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.
Gerard Asyn was also in winners row after he topped the three-player para division, a category for disabled players. Asyn had wins over Kesha Belfon 11-7, 11-4, 11-9, and Olga Charles 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 to follow up on his triumph at the Keshav Trading Classified Championships earlier this year. Belfon finished second when he beat Charles 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4.
