By GARY LEMKE in Accra
Team SA’s table tennis singles players had a tough time of things as the 13th African Games action sprung into life at the Accra International Conference Centre on Monday.
They started the day with eight representatives in the singles competition – four men and four women – and at the end of proceedings all had been eliminated.
In the men’s singles Luke Abrahams fared the best when he reached the round of 64, where he went down to Khalil Sta of Tunisia. In the women’s singles, all four players, Lailaa Edwards, Danisha Patel, Rochida Sonday and Kalam Mustifiquh progressed to the last 32, when they all fell.
However, all is not lost because there are high hopes for Team SA going forward, with the doubles, mixed doubles and team events still to come. “I honestly think that in the women’s team event we will be right there in the medals,” said Patel, South Africa’s No1 player.
She admitted that there was an element of frustration to her game and circumstances which contributed to her losing to the No1-ranked player in the competition, Egypt’s Yousra Helmy 3-0 in the round of 32.
“Look, it wasn’t the best day in terms of results,” said the 31-year-old. “But, the team played well. We only had two practices leading into the first day of competition and we are not used to the format. We hardly ever play the singles first and usually that’s where I’m at my best once I’ve got a few matches under the belt.
“Conditions in the hall weren’t idea either, but that takes nothing away from the facilities. They are good. We have no complaints. The only thing that I feel hampered all of us was the aircon. It was blowing quite hard and moving the ball around, and we’re not used to that. We’ll take this on the chin though, regroup and come back stronger for the experience.”
TEAM SA ON MONDAY
Men’s singles, round of 128
Liam Beukes beat Arnaud Kekessi (Bur) 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-5)
Cowen Lodewyk lost to Voldemar Cassanga (Ang) 2-3 (5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 14-16)
Men’s singles, round of 64
Chetan Nathoo lost to Ben Moussa Dosso (Ivory Coast) 1-3 (4-11, 11-8, 13-15, 4-11)
Luke Abrahams beat Mohamed Nadir (Sudan) 3-2 (4-11, 12-10, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3)
Men’s singles, round of 64
Luke Abrahams lost to Khalil Sta (Tunisia) 1-3 (11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 7-11)
Women’s singles, round of 64
Lailaa Edwards beat Ruth Elenghat (Congo) 3-0 w/o
Danisha Patel beat Thomie Mossemba (Congo) 3-0 w/o
Rochida Sonday beat Kunda Mubanga (Zam) 3-0 (11-4, 12-10, 11-3)
Kalam Mustifiquh beat Hadjer Thamni (Alg) 3-2 (10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8)
Women’s singles, round of 32
Lailaa Edwards lost to Esther Oribamise (Nigeria) 0-3 (3-11, 7-11, 6-11)
Rochida Sonday lost to Edem Offiong (Nigeria) 0-3 (5-11, 10-12, 9-11)
Daniela Patel lost to Yousra Helmy (Egypt) 0-3 (2-11, 8-11, 3-11)
Kalam Mustifiquh lost to Ruqayyah Kinoo (Mauritius) 2-3 (13-11, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 9-11)
Photo of Kalam Mustifiquh by Frennie Shivambu in Accra
Source: TeamSA
