Barbados failed to get among the medals in the singles events as the 53rd Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation’s Championships ended at the Cliff Anderson Sports Facility, Georgetown, Guyana, Friday.
The Farley brothers, the right-handed Trevor and left-hander Kevin, both fell one step short, bowing out at the quarter-final stage but the performances of the others, particularly the women were less convincing.
Team captain Mark Dowell had a tough fixture immediately after emerging from the group exchanges and was eliminated by Dexter St Louis of Trinidad and Tobago who went on to take the silver medal, losing to Juan Vila Batista of the Dominican Republic in the final. Dowell lost to St Louis in straight games at six, three and five.
Both Farleys advanced from the round of 16 with compelling performances to put them into the quarter-finals.
Trevor defeated Paul David of Guyana11-4, 11-5, 11-8, while Kevin cruised past Trinidadian Reeza Burke 11-6, 11-5, 11-6.
Trevor was then denied at least a bronze medal when he was beaten by Emil Santos of the Dominican Republic at four, five and eight.
Kevin pulled a game off the eventual champion Batista but after an encouraging start in which he took the first at nine, he dropped the next three games at seven, nine and nine.
None of the women advanced from their preliminary group matches.
The squad included Ann Reid, who represented Barbados for more than two decades, Krystal Harvey who hardly lifted a racket during the recently concluded domestic season and Sherrice Felix who only recently returned from studying overseas. Nicole Alleyne was the other member of the women’s team that failed to record a win in the four-nation competition.
The women’s team, however, was awarded joint bronze with Guyana in the team competition. Alleyne and Reid won bronze in the doubles.
Barbados also won bronze in the men’s team event as well as through the Farley brothers in the doubles and Chris Banfield in the veterans’ event. (PH)