Riad Abasali and Franklin Seechan prevailed in the 45-60 and 60 and Over divisions to claim the respective titles in the Central Zone Veterans’ Tournament hosted at the Guaracara Table Tennis Club (GTTC) venue in Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, on Saturday.
Abasali of Servivors Table Tennis Club claimed the top spot with a straight-sets victory over Anthony Laquis of Oxford, 3-0, in the 45-60 division. He handled the pressure superbly to beat Laquis, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8, in the final.
Abasali reached the title match after a hard-fought win over Steve Carter (GTTC), 10-12, 11-7, 1-4, 12-10, in the quarterfinals, then battled past Powergen’s Anil Ramlakhan, 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-7) in the semifinals.
Laquis’ path to silver included a demanding victory over the chairman of Central Zone T&T Table Tennis Association (TTTTA), Rabindra Outar of the Couva Trailblazers Table Tennis Club (CTTTC), 3-2 (11-3, 11-6, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8) in the quarterfinals. He next took down GTTC’s Wesley Dookoo, 13-11, 11-4, 13-11, in the semifinals before falling at the final junction.
Dookoo (GTTC) secured the bronze after a strong showing against Ramlakhan, 3-0 ( 11-9, 11-5, 11-9) in the third-placed match. Dookoo earlier topped Oxford’s David Gopaul, 3-1, (11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7) before going down to Laquis. His opponent, Ramlakahan, outlasted worthy opponent GTTC’s Don Savant (3-2) in the quarterfinals. He dropped the first set 7-11, before recovering to take the second, 11-7. He again went under in the third set 7-11, but rebounded in the next sets to win, 11-3 and 11-5.
Action in the 60 and over Division was just as competitive, with Seechan outplaying Harnarine Moonisar (CVS) after dropping the opening set to secure the title. He bounced back to sweep the next three sets for a 3-1 (11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9) win in the finale.
Seechan, en route to the title match, had wins over Donald Humphrey (CVS), 3-1 (4-11, 11-1, 11-1, 11-6) in the semifinals and Satash Jodhan (CTTTC), 3-0 (11-5, 16-14, 11-7).
Second-placed finisher Moonisar sealed a rigorous win against Bob Roopnarine (Oxford) 12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5 in the semifinal round, following his quarterfinal victory over Rasheed Mohammed (Oxford), 3-0 ( 11-6, 11-9, 11-3).
Roopnarine did not go home empty-handed as he defeated Humphrey 3-1 (11-4, 1-11, 11-5, 11-4) for third place.
Organisers of the Veterans’ tournament gave special thanks to all players, umpires, coaches, caterers, sponsors and spectators, who came out and supported the exciting one-day competition.
Results
45-60 Div
Final
Riad Abasali bt Anthony Laquis 14-12, 11-7, 11-8
Third place Wesley Dookoo bt Anil Ramlakhan 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.
Semifinals
Laquis bt Dookoo, 13-11, 11-4, 13-11
Abasali bt Ramlakhan 11-8, 12-10, 11-7
Quartfinals
Laquis defeated Rabindra Outar (CTTTC), 11-3, 11-6, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8
Dookoo beat David Gopaul (Oxford), 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7
Abasali beat Steve Carter (Guaracara) 10-12, 11-7, 1-4, 12-10
Ramlakhan beat Don Savant (Guaracara) 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5
60 and Over Div
Final: Franklin Seechan beat Harnarine Moonisar, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9
Third Place: Bob Roopnarine (Oxford) beat Donald Humphrey (CVS), 11-4, 1-11, 11-5, 11-4
Semifinals
Seechan beat Humphrey, 4-11, 11-1, 11-1, 11-6
Moonisar beat Roopnarine, 12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5
Quarterfinal
Seechan beat Satash Jodhan (CTTTC), 11-5, 16-14, 11-7
Humprey beat Ashton M Chariandy 12-10, 11-7, 11-4
Roopnarine beat Faiz Mohammed (Powergen) 11-6, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10
Moonisar beat Rasheed Mohammed (Oxford) 11-6, 11-9, 11-3
