Aleena Edwards of the University of T&T smashed her way to her second women's Open title in three years and record ninth overall when the Solo National Table Tennis Tournament concluded at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas on Wednesday night. In the women's decider, Edwards battled past Linda Partap-Boodhan of Arima Hawks in an entertaining clash, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9. With the win, Edwards collected the $1,000 winner's cheque and the title left vacant by her younger sister, Astra Edwards-Bennett who did not enter this year's event. Earlier on in the semifinal round, Edwards who led UTT to the women's team title last weekend was also stretched to seven-sets by 18-year-old Ashley Quashine of Carenage Blasters before she prevailed 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 3-11, 12-10, 7-10, 13-11.
Partap-Boodhan stopped Woodbrook Gladiators Avernelle Abraham 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 in the other semifinal. A new champion was also crowned in the men's singles competition as local Table Tennis Association and East Zone president, Reeza Burke of Hawks triumphed for a fifth time to climb within one of France-based Dexter St Louis for overall titles. Burke, who had already tasted success in the men's team tournament and men's doubles with Anson Wellington outclassed surprise finalist and US-based Nazruddin Asgarali 11-8, 12-14, 11-5, 11-9, 15-13 for the $1,200 title.
Burke defeated 2005 champion and senior Asgarali's son Khaleel Asgarali, 1-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11 in the quarterfinal before he brushed aside Solo Crusaders' Terry Corbin 11-4, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 in the semifinals. The older Asgarali meanwhile stunned last year's winner Michael Nanton of D'Abadie Youths 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 and disposed of 2007 winner and last year's runner-up, US-based Dayanand Maharaj 11-5, 8-11, 1-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 in his final-four encounter.
In the two other men's quarterfinal encounters, played on Wednesday night, Maharaj got the better of Yuvraj Dookram 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 in a clash of US-based players while Corbin ousted Cuban-based Aaron Edwards, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 in the best-of-five set match. By virtue of their respective victories, Edwards and Burke gain selection on the senior national team for the Caribbean Table-Tennis Championship scheduled for Guyana from August 12-19. However, it is left to be seen if the duo would take up the offer or make room for younger players as they are both coaches of the national teams.
