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Blessing Malinganiza

VETERAN table tennis player Vikram Singh is happy to have been crowned Mashonaland East Open Table Tennis tournament champion.

The two-day event, which was held at Winwood College in Ruwa from October 7-8, attracted more than 100 table tennis players from around the country.

Singh defeated Tinotenda Fambira, who had to settle for silver while Tatenda Mumvuma got the bronze.

“I’m very happy that at 48 years of age, I still have the ability to go out and win a tournament especially against the younger guys.

“But I would like to improve further and I can only do that by continuing to receive proper training as I believe that age is no bar to gaining knowledge.

“To be honest I had to improvise my style of play as well as my weight issues.

“I used to play more or less defensively with a pimpled rubber, and now I’m playing with both attack rubbers so a lot of adjustments have been made.

“I’m also grateful to local Chinese player Wang Liping, who has contributed immensely in giving me good practice of the game when I play against him in practice matches over the weekends,” he said.

In the women’s open category, Gamuchirai Shumba outclassed Vongai Zhuwakimu in the final to claim the title.

In the U10 girls’ category with Matidaishe Goredema taking home gold ahead of her colleagues Anofara Nyamiti and Princess Tichivangani who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Kunashe Mlambo of Manicaland scooped the U10 boys’ title after he defeated Kundai Goremusandu in the final while Emmanuel Tichivangani settled for the bronze medal.

In the U12 boys section, Delight Mutanda was the winner with Tatenda Tumire winning the U15 boys title. Tapiwa Musarurwa was the girls’ U15 winner.

Aiden Mabaudi won the gold medal in the U21 men’s category while in the women’s section of the same age-group, Elizabeth Seyitini won the title.

Tournament organiser and technical director Robinson Chigede said:

“As the organiser of the event, I am happy and satisfied with the trajectory that we are on as a sport and I’m sure with more tournaments like this, the sport will grow and develop in the country.

“I would also like to express my gratitude to our mother body the Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union for their support during the preparations of the tournament.

They also ensured that the tournament is ranked which will also help to rank national players according to their performance.”