Grenadian table tennis players captured 4 of the five titles at stake in the recently concluded LQ Classic Junior Table Tennis Tournament.
51 players registered for the tournament, which also, for the first time, featured players from Dominica, Barbados and St Vincent and Grenadines. But Grenada’s junior players held their own with the home-court advantage and put on a remarkable performance.
Grenada Under-19 (U19) singles champion Cedric Marquez was in superb form, defeating his opponents from Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines en route to winning the championship.
He defeated fellow St Rose Modern Secondary School student Qwanell Walker in the final in straight sets, 12–10, 11–9, 12–14, 11–3.
In the U15 final, Walker played undefeated and scored a straight-sets victory against Zadine Gibbs 11–5; 11–6; 11–6.
Zadine Gibbs, a U13 player, scored a major upset defeating St Vincent and the Grenadines U15 champion Zayden Cyrus in straight sets.
The Boys U13 final was the match of the 2-day tournament featuring St Rose Secondary School student Jonnique Mark, and Barbadian Mdjai Colleymore. The 2 players gave a magnificent display of athleticism and table tennis shots in their 45-minute fivesetter.
Colleymore went into the final as the hot favourite after winning his seven qualifying matches to reach the final. However, Mark, though not fully recovered from a foot injury, was up to the challenge, winning the first game 13–11; however, Colleymore, coached by Kevin Farley, won the second 11–8.
The third set brought out the best in the 2 youngsters, but it was Mark who triumphed 11–7. Colleymore played brilliantly to win the fourth 11–4, setting the stage for a fifth and final battle, which Mark won 11–8 with a series of clever counterattacking forehand shots.
The Girls U19 title went to St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Shanecia Delpesche, defeating Sandra Joseph of Dominica 11–8, 11–6, 11–5.
The Girls U13 title was captured by Grenada’s Savani Frederick, defeating her compatriot Katisha Francis 11–4; 11–9; 14–11.
The LQ Sports Classic is an annual tournament staged by Life Quality Sports Inc.
LQ Classic
