France-based top T&T women's table tennis player, Rheann Chung earned a ticket to this summer's Pan American Games Table Tennis Tournament when she qualified on the third attempt at the Latin American Table Tennis Union and North American Table Tennis Union Qualifying Tournament for the Pan American Games in Guatemala City, Guatemala, yesterday.
An emotional Chung, a five-time Caribbean women's champion, who is still reeling from the passing of her step-father and mentor, former national and five-time Caribbean men's singles champion Dexter St Louis recently, outclassed Costa Rican Fiorella Vallecillo 11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 in the round-of-16 followed by an 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 whipping of Paraguay's Lucero Overlar in the quarterfinals.
With one of two spots at stake for the Pan American Games carded for Lima Peru in July/August at stake, Chung then brushed aside Guyana's Trenace Lowe 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-9.
In the other half of the draw, two-time T&T national women's champion, Brittany Joseph beat Honduran, Rebecca Ayestas 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 15-13 but was then ousted by Paraguay's Leyla Gomez 3-11, 7-11, 7-11, 4-11.
Joseph then contested the playoffs for fifth to the sixth spot, beating Barbadian, Anthonette Riley 11-6, 11-1, 11-5, 11-4 only to fall to Paraguay's Overlar, 6-11, 8-11, 4-11, 6-11.
Among the men, T&T duo, Aaron Wilson, the national champion and Curtis Humphreys, both failed in their attempt to qualify.
In the first knockout competition, France-based Rheann Chung was beaten by Leyla Gomez of Paraguay 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 16-18 while two-time T&T national women's champion, Brittany Joseph was beaten in her first match by Ecuadorean Mylena Plaza 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 8-11, 8-11.
On the men's side, Curtis Humphrey was beaten by Costa Rican Mauricio Angulo 1-11, 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 10-12, 4-11, 1-11 and Aaron Wilson was humbled by Venezuelan Cecillio Correa 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 9-11, both in the last-16.
In the second knockout competition, Chung started with an 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7 win against Honduran Rebecca Ayestas but then suffered a shock 0-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 4-11 loss to Guyanese rival, Chelsea Edhgill in the quarterfinal stage.
Meanwhile, Joseph did not get past her opening match, losing 5-11, 5-11, 7-11, 5-11 to Venezuelan Neridee Nino.
Wilson was stopped by Guatemalan Hector Gatica 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11 while Humphreys beat Costa Rica's Oscar Mata 5-11, 8-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 13-11 before losing to Panama's Omer Avi-Tal, 4-11, 5-11, 6-11, 11-8, 6-11.
And in the third knockout series, Wilson defeated Haiti's Rafael Neposiano 11-4, 11-5, 11-1, 8-11, 11-8 but was then halted by Venezuela's Marco Navas 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 9-11, 7-11 while Humphreys came up short against Avi-Tal, 10-12, 5-11, 11-5, 14-12, 6-11, 6-11.
nigel.simon@guardian.co.tt