By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |
This year’s Vilcabamba Table Tennis Club (VTTC) and Micky Group Limited Open Championship with Ghana’s top seeds, Cynthia Kwabi and Derrick Abrefa in participation over the weekend at the Centre for National Culture at Denu in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region, has recorded classic competition and improvement.
The Annual Championship which is aimed at encouraging the young talents in the region saw over 37 participants coming from various parts of the region including the host town, Denu, Hohoe, Anloga, Tokor, Kpando, Anyako, as well as the national capital, Accra, and neighbouring Togo.
The best of 3 in group stages and the best of five in the knockout stages of the singles championships saw Benjamin Mensah beat Richard Semexah 3-2 to clinch Gold Medal and a smart phone in the Cadet category. It was an intriguing encounter from start to finish as both proved why they were in the finals, with the last set ending 11-9 for Mensah.
Richmond Semexah, twin brother of Richard beat Solomon Agbanyo 3-1 to place third as both received cash prizes, Polo shirts, Bronze Medals with certificates.
In the Juniors Category, Hohoe-based Bless Hodasi sailed through to the finals and defeated Eli Aglago in 3 straight sets to run away with the Gold Medal and Wall Clock. Dominic Prah, also from Hohoe settled for Bronze Medal together with Ishmael Clottey from Accra who lost to the former 3-1 in the third place game.
The Veterans, which saw only four participants who battled for a single round robin, had Michael Kpeku winning all 3 matches to clinch the Gold Medal, while Israel Bossman picked Silver Medal. Julius Amekpor managed Bronze, whereas Thomas Kuenyefu went home only with a certificate and cash prize.
It was a cagey final as Millicent Ankude battled Cynthia Kwabi in the female category which saw emerging talents display their skills in the group stages. Millicent fought back to draw 1-1 after Cynthia had taken the lead. The home fans grew wild as Millicent forced the Ghanaian International to fumble in the 3rd game but experience won it for Kwabi, as she sealed a 3-1 victory over Millicent Ankude. In the 3rd place match, Matilda Fodu lost 2-3 to Malwine Akator, while Abigail Heanyeame clinched the 5th position overall after beating Beatrice Boateng 2-1.
Derrick Abrefa had a 100 per cent record in his quest to clinch Gold Medal in the male seniors but not on a silver platter as he fought his way through to victory, beating Dzodzi Norvihoho 3-1 in the finals. Selassie Setorwofia took Bronze Medal after a thrilling 3rd place game with Bright Dzotsiafe, a 3-0 revenge for the former who lost 1-3 during their group game.
Abrefa, received a wooden Trophy, Cash prize, a certificate, a polo shirt, and a wall clock, while Kwabi among other winners of each category had same but without a trophy.
There were cash prizes for 5th and 6th place overall in the female category only but all first 4 in each category except Veterans (4th place), had Certificates, medals, Polo shirts & cash prizes.
Chairman of the VTTC, Thomas Kuenyefu in an interview indicated the club’s intention to open the Championship to the whole country and to further improve upon it in 2019.
“Next year, we shall do a bigger tournament, with bigger prizes and bigger competitors from outside the region, so that we will have a national affair and not just a regional affair. So we want to encourage players from other regions who are not exposed to come next year.”
Vilcabamba Table Tennis Club also used the opportunity to honor Millicent Ankude, Malwine Akator, Jemilatu Mensah and Matilda Fodu who helped the club achieve a 4th place berth at the
National Table Tennis League which ended in November with a party at the Hotel Vilcabamba.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com