Table Tennis: Mohan Shopping Centre-sponsored Knockout Tournament-Benstrong, Sultan end season at number one |19 December 2006
Fresh from winning four medals – a gold in the mixed doubles with Achille Dodin as partner, two silver in the ladies’ singles and ladies’ team event, and a bronze in the ladies’ doubles – during the inaugural edition of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca) zone 7 Games in Mauritius on December 9 and 10, Benstrong is this year’s revelation in Seychelles’ table tennis.
She has toppled another youngster – 20-year-old Janice Esparon, a four-time player of the year in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 – as the number one female player, earning herself both the junior and senior player of the year titles.
She needed five sets to win the best-of-seven final 4-1 (11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8) to retain her title and was later congratulated by Mohan Chetty of Mohan Shopping Centre and Father Christmas for her good showing.
Benstrong then teamed up with Vincent Isaac to take home another winner’s trophy after their 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-1) triumph against the pair of Godfrey Sultan and Maria Laure.
“A lot of hard work has got me where I am today. Reaching number one has been my goal since I first took up table tennis and I’ve done it. I’m happy with myself and with what I’ve achieved so far. This is just the beginning for me,” Benstrong told Sports Nation.
Unlike Benstrong who expressed her joy at being the country’s female number one player, Godfrey Sultan said to Sports Nation that his level of play has dropped after returning from Belgium where, together with five other local players, he followed a training camp.
Said Sultan:
“The year started well, but as the season progressed, the coach was absent for a number of training sessions. After we trained in Belgium, o
In the men’s singles final, Sultan and Vincent Isaac exchanged sets and were tied at three sets all after the sixth, forcing the taking place of a decisive seventh set.
Due to pick up his sixth consecutive male player of the year title during the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony in January 2007 after wining his previous five wins in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, Sultan, 21, rallied to win.
The final score: 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9).
Both the ladies’ and men’s singles competitions were contested by eight players.
The winner of the boys’ division three was neither Anil Nibourette nor Mohamed Barreau, proving that the competition is tight in this category. It was Duane Romain who carried home the winner’s trophy, rallying from two sets behind to win 3-2 (6-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9) against Nibourette in the final.
In the third place play-off, Dario Laurence edged Mohamed Barreau 3-2.
Hughes Fostel beat Yannick Nicette 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6) in the boys’ division two final, while Elvis Farabeau took third place and the bronze medal with a 3-1 defeat of Aleg Almaze in the third place play-off.
The girls’ division three crown went to Christy Bristol who won all her three games in the round-robin league involving four players. Laura Sinon finished second with two wins and Laura Sinon got just one win for third position.
Angel Landry defeated Petrina Mellie 3-1 (13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5) in the girls’ division two final. Third place went to Bernadette Marie with a 3-1 victory against Hazel Robert in the third place play-off match.
Although the season is over, local table tennis players will remain active as early next year they are to participate in the Junior African Table Tennis Championship in Tunisia and the Senior African Table Tennis Championship in Congo Brazaville in February.
It is to note that the senior championship was scheduled for November but was postponed.
2006 Hall of fame
Senior male player of the year: Godfrey Sultan (winner), Vincent Isaac (runner-up)
Young male player of the year: Achille Dodin
Senior female player of the year: Anissa Benstrong (winner), Janice Esparon (runner-up)
Young female player of the year: Anissa Benstrong
Coach of the year: Jimmy Vel
Official of the year: Christopher Lesperance
Men’s league: Godfrey Sultan (winner), Vincent Isaac (runner-up)
Women’s league: Anissa Benstrong (winner), Janice Esparon (runner-up)
Men’s Monthly Challenge winner: Godfrey Sultan with seven wins in February, March, April, June, August, September and November
Women’s Monthly Challenge winner: Anissa Benstong with seven wins in February, March, July, August, September, October and November
Men’s Curtain-raiser: Godfrey Sultan (winner), Fabien Belmont (runner-up)
Women’s Curtain-raiser: Anissa Benstrong (winner), Maria Laure (runner-up)
Men’s Top-Four: Godfrey Sultan (winner), Vincent Isaac (runner-up)
Women’s Top-Four: Anissa Benstrong (winner), Janice Esparon (runner-up)
Men’s MSC Knockout Tournament: Godfrey Sultan (winner), Vincent Isaac (runner-up)
Women’s MSC Knockout Tournament: Anissa Benstrong (winner), Janice Esparon (runner-up)
G. G.