The secondary schools table tennis competition continues this week with group play in Sections 2-4, after Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School dominated Section 1 earlier this month. The tournament involves students from 19 schools in individual and team play, with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals at the Beausejour Gymnasium in November.
Organised by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports alongside the Saint Lucia National Table Tennis Association, action got underway at the Blanchard Combined Auditorium.
The boys of Special Education Centre Vieux Fort took charge in the team division. Meshach Cox led from the front, sweeping his matches in straight sets to push Special Ed past Micoud Secondary 3-0. Cox remained undefeated in the decisive encounter, securing a 3-1 victory over Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) to top the group. Justin Auguste claimed two straight-set wins for VFCSS in their 3-0 defeat of Micoud.
In the girls’ team clash, VFCSS blanked Micoud 3-0. Arianna Jankie led the charge, winning both of her matches without conceding a set. VFCSS ran the tables in the singles qualifiers, locking down 20 of the 24 available berths across three age divisions.
The southern powerhouse completed clean sweeps in the under-13 bracket. Eurnisha Braville, Jainel Joseph, Amora Henry, and Akayla George took all four girls’ slots. Nyhim Fevriere, Onunzi Jn Charles, Ayden Jn Marie, and Taylor Joseph secured the boys’ positions.
Under-15 play brought similar results. Braville, Claire Cooman, Henry, and Jainel Taylor captured the four girls’ spots. Brydel Khadoo, Jn Charles, Fevriere, and Samuel Promesse swept the boys’ division.
VFCSS added four more qualifiers in under-19 girls through Jankie, Braville, Sarah Charles, and Henry. Special Education Centre broke the streak in under-19 boys, where Cox and Dennis Collymore took the top two spots ahead of VFCSS players Khadoo and Jn Charles.
Group 2 serves off Tuesday at the La Fargue Community Centre, featuring Choiseul Secondary, Soufriere Comprehensive, TVET Institute: School of Arts, Media and Design, and TVET Institute: School of Construction and Heritage.
On Wednesday, Group 3 takes over the Castries Table Tennis Centre, featuring St. Mary’s College, Leon Hess Comprehensive, St. Joseph’s Convent, Entrepot Secondary, and Ciceron Secondary. Group 4 wraps preliminary play at Castries on Friday, with Babonneau Secondary, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary, Castries Comprehensive, Saint Lucia Sports Academy, and Corinth Secondary.
