France-based Rheann Chung captured her fourth women's singles title when she defeated Dominican Republic Eva Britto in seven-set thriller at the 53rd Senior Central American and Caribbean Table-Tennis Championship in Georgetown, Guyana, yesterday. Chung looked to be on the verge of settling for the silver medals after losing the first three sets 7-11, 8-11 and 9-11 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. However, the 25-year-old T&T smashers then won the next four sets, 11-4, 11-8, 13-11, 12-10 to claim the title and add to her previous triumphs of 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Earlier on in the semifinal, Chung, winner of the Mixed Doubles with step-father Dexter Louis stopped hometown player, Trenace Lowe, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 after beating another Guyanese player, Michelle John 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 in the quarterfinals. Ashley Quashie ousted Jodiann Blake, also of Guyana 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 in the last-16 before she was stopped by Lowe at the quarterfinal hurdle 2-11, 12-10, 6-11, 10-12, 4-11. The 44-year-old St Louis picked up his third silver medal of the tournament after losing out to Dominican Republic Juan Vila Bastista 15-13, 9-11, 5-11, 7-11, 8-11, in their title-match, thus failing to add to his 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2009 gold medal performances.
St Louis had beaten Dominican Republic's Emil Santos 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2 in the semifinal while Batista downed, T&T's Curtis Humphreys' 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9. Earlier on St Louis brushed aside Barbadian Mark Dowell in the last-16, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 before beating Simon Tomlinson (Jamaica), 11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10 while Humphreys booted Joel Alleyne 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 and his fellow Guyanese Idi Lewis 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 in the quarterfinals. Reeza Burke, went under to Barbadian, Kevin Farley 6-11, 5-11, 6-11 at the round-of-16. Overall, T&T captured nine medals, two gold, five silver and two bronze.
T&T medals
Gold
Women's Singles: Rheann Chung
Mixed Doubles: Rheann Chung/Dexter St Louis
Silver
Men's Singles:
Dexter St Louis
Men's Doubles: Dexter St Louis/Curtis Humphreys
Women's Doubles: Rheann Chung/Aleena Edwards
Men's Team: Dexter St Louis, Curtis Humphreys, Michael Nanton, Reeza Burke
Women's Team: Rheann Chung, Aleena Edwards, Ashley Quashie, Linda Partap-Boodhan
Bronze
Men's Singles:
Curtis Humphreys
Women's Veterans: Verna Edwards
