Engaging Table Tennis Action at the Sussex Women’s Summer 2* Tournament
The third edition of the Sussex Women’s Summer 2 tournament* saw an impressive turnout, with 50 girls competing across nine events. For the first time, the event also featured an all-female Para Competition, showcasing the continued growth and inclusivity of the sport.
The action kicked off with the U13 event, where top seed Zoe Gonpot navigated her way to the final with relative ease. However, unseeded Alena Bondar had other plans, knocking out the second seed Grace Liu in straight sets to set up a thrilling final. Alena emerged victorious, claiming the U13 title in four closely contested games.
In the U15 category, top seed Bly Twomey continued her dominant run to the final, while Akshita Subramanium had to fight hard to reach the same stage, overcoming Nouh Alamine and the second seed. Bly ultimately prevailed in three straight sets to add another title to her growing collection.
The U19 final provided an all-Cippenham clash, with top seed Mia Lakhani facing off against Rachael Iles. Rachael, who had to battle through a five-game semifinal, proved too strong on the day, defeating Mia in four hard-fought games to claim the U19 title.
The Restricted event, or “not yet a vet” as the organizers fondly referred to it, saw a dramatic final between top seed Sarah Her-Lee and second seed Holly Holder. Holly stormed to a 2-0 lead, but Sarah’s experience shone through as she fought back to win the final three sets and the title.
The O40 event was a closely contested affair, with Anita Jermyn and Tulay Dunbar going the distance in the final. Anita, the top seed, ultimately prevailed in five sets to claim the title.
The highlight of the day was the inaugural Para Competition, where Bly Twomey and Amanda Worne emerged victorious in the Standing and Wheelchair classes, respectively.
The afternoon was rounded off with the highly anticipated Open Event, which welcomed players of all ages and abilities. The battle between youth and experience was a common theme, with youngsters like Mia Lakhani and Bly Twomey pushing the more experienced players to their limits. In the end, it was Sarah Her-Lee who added a second title to her collection, defeating Rachael Iles in a thrilling final.
The next event hosted by Worthing TTC will be their Summer 1 tournament*, which will feature dedicated events for male and female players. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.worthingttc.com or follow them on social media.
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