Third Commonwealth Youth Games-Benstrong makes table tennis quarterfinal |15 October 2008

Last night she was in the quarterfinal of the competition at the ongoing Third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.

Ladies’ singles gold medallist at the Sixth Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan indien (CJSOI) Games Seychelles hosted, Benstrong defeated Jamaican Yvonne Less Foster 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4) to take one of the two top places in pool five.

Benstrong’s other win was against Stephanie Qwea from Vanuatu in her first match on a 3-1 (11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8) score and she lost 2-3 to Malaysian Kwan May Kuen in her second game.

Playing in pool two of the boys’ singles competition, Hughes Fostel fell 0-3 (2-11, 4-11, 4-11) to Marious Yiangou from Cyprus.

The defeat was his second as he lost 1-3 to Michael Thomas of Wales in his first encounter. His only win came against Mothibi Khethang of Lesotho on a 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-9) score.

Group winners and runners-up qualify for the knockout stage in the table tennis competition.

In badminton, three-time CJSOI gold medallist Joel Dubel failed to make the semifinal of the men’s singles competition.

A 2-1 winner against Ben Li of the Isle of Man in the preliminary stage, Dubel fell 0-2 (4-21, 2-21) in 15 minutes to Gura Sai Dutt from hosts India in the quarterfinal yesterday.

Dubel is now out of the competition, just like Cynthia Course. Despite winning the opening set, she lost 1-2 (21-14, 10-21, 17-21) to D. Godfrey of South Africa in the ladies’ singles.

G. G.