Table tennis: May Monthly Challenge-CJSOI hopefuls test level in Monthly Challenge |21 May 2008

Present at the venue, coach Jimmy Vel coordinated the competition and at the same time analysed the play of each player so as to correct mistakes in future training sessions.

“We are focusing a lot on tactics because we need to know our weaknesses,” said coach Vel.

More than 40 players competed in the men’s and ladies’ singles events of Sunday’s tournament and they were divided into two divisions instead of three as previously.

In the ladies’ division one final, number one player Anniessa Benstrong defeated Janice Mellie 4-1. Mellie won the first set 11-9, but Benstrong came back stronger to win the next four 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 and 11-8.

 
Speaking to Sports Nation, Benstrong said she expected Mellie to beat her as during practice recently the former women’s number one had beaten her.

As expected, Godfrey Sultan won the men’s division one final on a 4-2 score against Hugh Fostel.

Despite the win, Sultan did not play at his usual best and he said this was because most of the male senior players don’t turn up for training.

“I have to train with Anniessa and Janice most of the time. This is affecting my game. Today (Sunday) I did not want to get easy wins over the young players. I made them work hard and also enjoy the game. I’ll continue to help them,” senior player Sultan told Sports Nation.

Benstrong and Sultan have now brought their number of wins in the Monthly Challenge to four after also winning the February, March and April tournaments.

The boys’ division two title went to Jean-Yves Pothin, who edged Greg Valmont 3-2 (11-6, 14-12, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6) in the final.

Pothin beat Yannick Magnan 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-9) and Valmont won 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8) against Jude Asba in the semifinals. Third place went to Asba.

Nadine Barra triumphed in the ladies’ division two with a 3-2 (19-17, 7-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9) victory over Ruby Arrisol in the final, which proved to be very exciting as the two players exchanged sets.
 
To reach the final, Barra easily beat Manuella Mousbé 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-9), while Arrisol defeated Nifa Moumou 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-8).

I. H.