Table tennis champion crowned
The champion of the Legends Invitational table tennis tournament was crowned recently.
Table tennis in Pretoria reached a new peak with the first champion who was crowned recently in the local Legends Invitational tournament.
The Legends Invitational is Sports Challenges’ premier table tennis singles event. Only 24 of the top players in the city are invited, having come through the ranks in social tournaments to be selected to represent their various venues in the Inter-Venue League.
The Legends also featured three of the four Globetom Challengers, who are playing in the Gauteng North Table Tennis Board’s First League.
The Legends Invitational was a stellar amateur table tennis tournament. Fanie Slabbert (Moot) conceded only two sets on the night, both of them in a tough semi-final against Brendon Poonsamy, while Ronald Lawrence (Centurion) cruised all his matches in straight sets fashion. In the end it was Ronald who kept his unblemished record, also winning the final in straight sets 3-0 to get sweet revenge for a 3-1 loss to Fanie in the final of the IVL Open two months earlier.
The Collection Venue in Garsfontein on the same night also played host to the second-tier Sports Challenges Monthly Invitational (SCMI), which involves all winners of social tournaments since the previous SCMI, as well as selected other invitees. This produced another incredibly competitive lineup, and in the end it was Given Hlatshwayo (Pta East) who emerged victorious in the final against Tim Faro (Centurion).
A total of 65 players participated in the Legends, SCMI and Social divisions on the night on a total of eight tables. The night was a great showcase for amateur table tennis, and new relationships and rivalries were formed by many.
“It is amazing to see how many people enjoy the social aspect of table tennis. I never imagined that the growth would be this profound. It is clear that a void exists for people to come out in the evening to take part in some structured entertainment in a non-threatening environment, and this concept addresses that,” said Chris van der Walt, founder of Sports Challenges and chief coordinator of the series of events.
“We are happy to be a partner in the growth of the sport and look forward to hosting not only the next big one on 27 July but every weekly social event until then”, said Ben Botes, manager of the Collection Venue in Garsfontein.
The third instalment of the Sports Challenges Inter-Venue League also kicked off this past week, with eight teams from around Gauteng North taking part in round robin home and away matches. The participating venues are Fanie’s Place in Centurion, The Collection Venue in Garsfontein and Cue Masters in Gezina.
For more information on social and amateur table tennis events in Gauteng North, please visit www.playtabletennis.co.za or email chris@challengers.co.za.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
