MARK DOWELL confirmed his status as the best table tennis player in Barbados when he defeated Dr Shannon Doughlin in the final of the Barbados Olympic Association’s Independence tournament at the Table Tennis Centre, Nursery Drive, Friday night.
It was a fitting finale and a virtual champion of champions event that provided a tussle between the current “A” Class and Islandwide champions.
Dowell and Doughlin, neither of whom made the national team for the 2016 Caribbean Championships held during the summer, showed their class and skill in a fitting climax to the table tennis version of the Independence celebrations.
Dowell won the best of seven contest 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6. In the earlier rounds Dowell had overcome Rashawn Goddard, former national player Shawn Bellamy and Dale Rudder. Doughlin took out Rashad King, Marcus Smith and Kristian Doughty in the knockout stage on his way to the final.
Janae Lewis, who made her senior national debut earlier this year, showed she has made significant strides by beating reigning national champion Anthonette Riley in the women’s final.
Lewis, who beat the vastly experienced Ann Reid in the semi-finals overpowered Riley 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2 to emerge a convincing winner. Riley had previously taken out Danielle Walton in the semi-final.
The success of teenager Lewis, along with the already recognised talent of Riley and a core of enthusiastic female players, suggests a bright future for women’s table tennis in Barbados. (PH)