Report By Sally Hughes
Worthing Table Tennis Club welcome 20 new faces to their First Hits event held at Bohunt School in Worthing this Saturday.
The first hits tournaments are designed especially for young players under the age of 13 to taking part in their very first competitive experience, whether they come from any of the large number of after-school clubs or the junior beginners’ group both run by Worthing Table Tennis Club but was open to all young players from across Sussex, with players split into both under 13’s and under 11 age categories.
First up was the Under 13s event where players from across both West and East Sussex played in a round robin event.
Jake Langmaid of Worthing was crowned the champion after winning 100% of his matches though was pushed to 4 sets by silver medallist George Gilfeather from Lewes.
George himself was pushed the full distance by 3rd place Arthur Calver to a score of 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-5 and finally 7-11 to clinch the silver medal.
A special mention to Reuben Barker who took a place in the Under 13 event when a scratch entry became available and played fantastically well in his matches.
Next up was the Under 11s event with a substantial entry from across Sussex.
Players started in groups of 4 or 5 and depending on their finishing position were then placed in a new group to play for their finishing position in the overall tournament.
Group 1 was led by Nathanael Bedwell of Worthing followed by the events youngest participant Alex Komolibio at just age 6.
Group 2 saw countback required to separate the players with Alfonoso Volpe and Thomas Wilson having won the same number of matches but as Thomas beat Alfonso he came out in the number 1 position. The match was 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-13 so was the finest of margins.
With Andrew Almeida and Jessie Barker in 3rd and 4th place respectively.
Group 3 was a more straight forward affair with Adam Komolibio in first place having won all his matches in straight sets. Ivo Whiting came 2nd with an outstanding display of competitive play and Ari Arnstein in 3rd and Akhil Aiuian in 4th.
Onto stage 2 which had players now playing for their final positions.
Everyone who finished top of their group into 1 group, everyone who finished 2nd into another group and so on.
In the battle for 10th to 13th places Jack Hubbard came out 10th, Jesse Barker 11th, Henry Byrne 12th and Akhil 13th.
Jack and Jesse joint on 2wins each but as Jack overcame Jesse in 4 sets he took the top spot
For 7th to 9th places Neo Williams saw off Andrew Almedida and Ari Arnstein to take 7th and the winner of the plate confirmation gold medal!
Ari was silver medallist of the plate by nature of his win over Andrew who came in 9th.
It was a 3 way tie for positions 4 to 6 as each of Ivo, Alfonso and Alex took 1 win each in their group.
Down to a sets countback and Alex came in 4th having taken a set of Ivo.
Alfonso in 5th having won and lost 3-0 to each of his opponents and Ivo came in 6th.
Last but not least was our 1st place finishers group to place between 1st and 3rd.
Nathanael Bedwell of Worthing was the overall gold medallist having seen off Thomas Wilson and Adam Komolibio. He didn’t have it all his own way with Adam taking the first set but he focused to take the next 3 and the title with it.
Adam had consistency on his side to see of Thomas in 3 sets and gain the silver medal and for Thomas after only 6months of play to come in 3rd is a fantastic achievement.
The competition was very successful in its aim to bring young table tennis players who are currently learning table tennis in schools together to test their skills and take their game to the next level.
If you would like to find out more about Worthing Table Tennis Club and the sessions they run throughout the week for juniors and adults please visit www.worthingttc.com
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