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The Belize Times
Sunday, December 5, 2010
David Jones, Petie Usher and Harim Ochaeta win BNE national table tennis championships
David Jones, emerged as men’s singles champion; Petie Usher-Matus won women’s singles champ and Harim Ochaeta won the under-15 Cadets champ, when the Belize Ta b l e Te n n i s A s s o c i a t i o n (BTTA) hosted the 2010 Belize Natural Energy National table tennis championships at the home of table tennis, the Belize Elementary School auditorium on Sunday. The event "kicked off" with the playing of the Belize National Anthem, performed by a "line up" of violin players who did an excellent job with the Belize National Anthem. All the participating players, as well as the "early bird" spectators stood at attention for the playing of the Anthem. Immediately following the Anthem, the action started with "qualifying" matches in the Men Singles division o n 7 t a b l e s . Wi t h t h i s r o u n d completed, the "knock out" competition of 39 competitors started in the MEN SINGLES. The Men Singles division progressed with the top 8 rated players making it to the Quarter Finals. In the end, David Jones, Tu x Va s q u e z , N e l Ay u s o a n d Zhi Chen made it through and into the Semi Finals. The first Semi Final between David Jones, #1 Ranked, and Tux Vasquez, #4 Ranked went to the "very end" with David Jones eventually winning 3 to 2 over Tux Vasquez, and moving Jones into the Finals. The other Semi Final was no different as it also went down to the "wire" with Zhi Chen, #2 Ranked, defeating Nel Ayuso, #3 Ranked, also by the score of 3 to 2. The Finals therefore saw David Jones winning over Zhi Cheng 3 to 1, taking home
the CHAMPIONSHIP title. Nelito Ayuso also defeated Tux Vasquez to secure the 3rd spot by a score of 3 to 1. David Jones won 2010 NATIONAL WOMEN SINGLES CHAMPION, while Zhi Cheng placed 2nd, Nelito Ayuso took 3rd place and Tux Vasquez was 4th. The WOMEN SINGLES saw former champion Petie Matus returing to competition, by first defeating Wei Rang Huang in the Semi Finals by a score of 3 to 1, and then defeating Cui Zhen Li in the finals by 3 to 0. Wi t h a t o t a l o f 6 p l a y e r s competing in the event, and one default reported, the competition was excellent. Petie Matus won 2 0 1 0 N AT I O N A L W O M E N SINGLES CHAMPION, while Cui Zhen Li took 2nd place, We i R a n g H u a n g p l a c e d 3 r d and Tahera Ahmad finished 4th. The CADET Division of players 15 and Under of age comprised 8 participants. Harim Ochaeta, the No.1 Ranked CADET playe,r moved through the "knockout" competition by defeating Jemuel White in the opening match, then m o v i n g into the Semi Finals and defeating Ashar Arthurs 3 to 0. On the other side of the draw, Victor Quan, the No. 2 ranked C A D E T, m o v e d t h r o u g h t h e competition by first defeating David Jones Jr. in the opening round, and them defeating Gian Lisbey in the Semi Finals 3 to 0, also moving him into the Finals. The Finals therefore saw Harim going up against Vi c t o r, w i t h H a r i m O c h a e t a taking the championship title by defeating Victor Quan 3 to 1 in quite an exciting match by these young and upcoming players. With the level of play
having improved, the spectators were impressed and entertained by this match up. Ashar Arthurs also defeated Gian Lisbey to secure the 3rd position by a score of 3 to 1. Harim Ochaeta won cadets’ c h a m p , w h i l e Vi c t o r Q u a n placed 2nd, Ashar Arthurs took 3rd palce and Gian Lisbey - 4th. The other categories, MENS DOUBLES and the MIXED DOUBLES, were also full of action. The MENS DOUBLES competition (13 doubles partners entered) began with Dan Habet and Landy Habet from San Ignacio, Nel Ayuso and Ernesto Rivero, Amir Grajalez and Orlando Gentle from Orange Walk, and Jorge Espat and Tyrone Tun, making it to the Semi Finals. The first Semi Finals saw N e l i t o Ay u s o a n d E r n e s t o Rivero defeating Dan & Landy Habet 3 to 0 to advance to the Finals. On the other side of the draw Jorge Espat and Tyrone Tu n t o o k o u t A m i r G r a j a l e z and Orlando Gentle 3 to 0 to also advance to the Finals. Rivero and Ayuso then defeated Espat and Tun in the finals by a score of 3 to 0 to take home the Championship. Dan Habet and Landy Habet secured the 3rd position over Amir Gajalez & Orlando Gentle from Orange Walk by a score of 3 to 1. The MIXED DOUBLES started with 7 couples at the beginning. Former champions from quite a few years ago, Petie Matus and Tux Vasquez, once again "teamed up" to c o m p e t e i n t h i s y e a r ’s 2 0 1 0 Championships. They did make
it to the final round by defeating Mr & Mrs. Marion Usher in the Semi Finals 3 to 0. On the o t h e r s i d e o f t h e d r a w, t o p rated Carlos Cui and Cui Zen Li also made it to the Finals by defeating Nel Ayuso & Delarai Sanchez 3 to 0. The Finals ended with Petie Matus & Tux Vasquez defeating Carlos Cui & Cui Zhen Li 3 to 0 and taking home the 2010 NATIONAL IXED DOUBLES CHAMPIOHSHIP title, a repeat of what they did some 15 or s o y e a r s a g o . N e l Ay u s o a n d Delarai Sanchez also secured 3 r d p o s i t i o n o v e r M r. M r s . Marion Usher by a score of 3 to 0. Awards were presented to all winners by the representative f r o m t h i s y e a r ’s s p o n s o r s , Belize Natural Energy Ltd, with Mr. Marion Usher making the presentation. Mr. Usher also presented, on behalf of the National Sports Council, and the Ministry of Sports, a prize of $100.00 to CADET Harim Ochaeta, the player who has developed and made the biggest advancements in table tennis during this year. Harim is well deserving of this prize as he now carries the title o f C A D E T 2 0 1 0 N AT I O N A L CHAMPION, and is also the highest ranked CADET player. He also has increased his ratings by more than 250 points over the last few months. He is also a Senior C Class Rated player. T h e B T TA e x t e n d s a b i g "thank you" to their main sponsors - Belize Natural Energy Limited for their commitment to the sport for having confidence in the BTTA and its development. BNE has also committed to being the sponsors of this event for the next two years, 2011 & 2012.