REHOBOTH – Last weekend’s Rehoboth Junior Open Table Tennis tourney provided some major upsets, as the two number one ranked single players suffered surprising defeats in their respective finals.
The tourney, generously sponsored by Saunderson and Co. Auditors and Business Consultants took place on the premises of the JTL Beukes Primary School and attracted an impressive field of 49 players from all over the country, competing in 120 games on six tables, an all-time record indeed for Rehoboth. In the boys division, PW Steenkamp defeated number one ranked player, Darren Strauss. Strauss had been dominating the junior scene for quite some time and the experience he gained with the senior national team at the Zone 6 Games in January made many believe it would be more difficult now than ever to beat the youngster. However, Steenkamp emerged the deserved winner of his group and went on to beat Delton Dreyer in the round of 16. With combined wins over Ronaldo Vogel and Dietrich Möwes in the quarter and semi-finals – Steenkamp booked his place for the gold medal tie against Strauss, who himself had cruised through the group stages in dominating fashion.
In the final, Steenkamp stunned his opponent in four matches, winning 11:7, 11:5, 13:11 and 11:4. Another surprise in the U-18 ladies division was top ranked Kaitlyn Beukes, who suffered defeat in the final against 4th ranked opponent Reese Saunderson, going down 11:9, 11:4, 4:11 and 11:8. Darren Strauss celebrated a gold medal as he and his partner Dietrich Möwes won the boys double event against PW Steenkamp and Danco Burger 11:3, 7:11, 11:2 and 11:8. Namibia will be visited by two high profile international table tennis coaches Chiang Lin from Tony Table Tennis Academy and Shane Overmeyer. The pair will prepare the national team for the World Championships slated for May next year. Meanwhile, the NTTA has selected two players to participate at the All African Youth Games (ANOCA) slated for Gaborone, Botswana in May this year. They are Dietrich Möwes (14) and Kaitlyn Beukes (12).
By Staff Reporter