Table tennis-Benstrong and Sultan extend winning streak |24 April 2008

Their latest wins in the division one came last Sunday inside the Roche Caïman Omni-Sports Gym.
In the best-of-seven final, female number one player Benstrong defeated Janice Mellie, whom she succeeded as the best local player. The final score was 4-2 (11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8).

Aged 17, Benstrong is Seychelles’ most successful female player after winning the ladies’ singles bronze medal at the Seventh Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar in August last year, the women’s singles gold medal, women’s team gold medal, women’s doubles silver medal and mixed doubles silver medal at the first Zone 7 tournament in Mauritius in December 2007.

Sultan, 22, again showed that it will take a while before somebody beats him. In the final against Achille Dodin, whom he edged in the semifinal of the March edition, Sultan won 4-2 (11-8, 11-9, 26-24, 0-11, 7-11, 11-9).

Winner of the Curtain-raiser men’s singles title a record seventh consecutive time, Sultan is also the defending male table tennis player of the year and has been holding the title for six years.

Hugh Fostel won the male division two with a 3-2 (11-8, 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-5) win over Aleg Almaze.
The male division three title went to Mike Créa with a 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9) defeat of Greg Valmont, while Laura Sinon captured the female division three gold medal by whitewashing Rubby Arrisol 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-3) in the final.

The mixed doubles final winners were Janice Mellie and Achille Dodin following their 3-1 (11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9) victory over Anniessa Benstrong and Hugh Fostel who are preparing for the forthcoming Jeux de la Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien which Seychelles will host from July 27 to August 2.

G. G.