Tyrese Knight Shines for Barbados but Defeat is Outcome Against Oceania
10/27/2014 2014 ITTF World Cadet Challenge (Click here to access this section)
Defeat in the opening contest of proceedings, on the morning of Friday 27th October, for the host nation in the Boys� Team event at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Bridgetown, Barbados but there was solace in defeat.
Tyrese Knight, 14 years old, caused the North Americans problems as the visitors posted a five matches to nil win; he extended Jeremy Hazin to four games (13-15, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2), before suffering defeat in a full distance five games contest (9-11, 11-3, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8).
Two relatively close defeats in the opening fixture, in the second engagement of the day, it was two wins.
Against Oceania he beat both Ben Gould (12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6) and Victor Ma (7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8)
Consistency a Factor
Alas for the hosts it was defeat; Oceania recorded a three matches to two win with Ben Gould who had earlier lost to Tyrese Knight securing victory. He beat Marcus Smith in three straight games (11-5, 11-7, 11-3).
𨧻t was really difficult playing against Tyrese, he was very consistent�, said Ben Gould. 𨧻t𠏋 a style of play I𠐔e never come across before.�
Long pimpled rubber on the backhand, Tyrese Knight is a right handed defender with an aggressive forehand top spin; he𠏋 not quite Joo Saehyuk but he𠏋 on the way.
Based in Brisbane
Defeat but the Australian𠏋 credit, the young man from Brisbane who is coached by Robbie Frank. Notably Robbie Frank represented Australia at the London 2012 Olympic Games and was on duty for the green and gold at the second ever World Junior Championships in Kobe, Japan in 2004.
In the Boys� Singles event he was beaten a young upstart from China, a certain Ma Long.
𨧻 felt positive before the last match�, explained Ben Gould. 𨧻 think overall today I𠍿 pleased that I𠐔e been able to handle the pressure.�
Certainly in the concluding match to decide the outcome of the fixture it was a very unruffled Ben Gould who secured success for Team Oceania in the closest contest in the second series of duels.
Tough Match
However, Tyrese Knight was the young man to catch the eye.
𨧻t was a tough match against Ben, it was two-all in games�, said Tyrese Khight. 𨧻 think one of the main reasons I was able to win the fifth game was that I served with topspin; let him attack; then defended and after that with my forehand played counter top spin.
I suggest Mr Knight that you serve with backspin or no spin and the give that forehand top spin a good whirl.
Talent Present
Now watching Tyrese Knight and his colleague play suggests there is an abundance of talent in Barbados, Somehow that talent needs to be honed an in sport they have proved they can do it.
In the sport of table tennis, the Chinese province of Liaoning could send out a team that could beat the world; the likes of Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yue, Liu Shiwen and Ma Long come from that province.
Incredibly in the 1960s and 1970s Barbados could send out a cricket team that could beat the world; I would suggest that per capita of population no country in the world can match Barbados in sporting triumph.
Liaoning has a population of 45,000,000; Barbados just over 250,000! If they can achieve in cricket; why not in table tennis?
Oceania Successes
A three-two win for Oceania with the two remaining successes coming from Victor Ma against Marcus Smith (11-8, 11-5, 11-7) and from Florian Bolnitoz in opposition to Ramon Jackman (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7).
Success for Oceania; in the same group, Asia (Hwang Minha, Yuto Kizukuri, Lucas Tan) beat North America (Jack Wang, Kanak Jha, Jeremy Hazin) by four matches to one.
In the corresponding group; Europe (Artur Abusev, Cristian Pletea, Andrei Putuntica) overcame Latin America (Vitor Santos, Francisco Sanchi, Franklin Rodriguez) by four matches to one. Similarly, by the same margin Africa (Nathael Hamdoun, Yousseff Abdel-Aziz) defeated World Hopes (Martin Friis,Michael Tran, Dario Arce).
Girls� Team Event
Meanwhile, in the Girls� Team event; in the second series of fixtures Asia (Mima Ito, Kim Jiho, Lee Ka Yee) beat Latin America (Adriana Diaz, Bruna Takahashi, Gabriela Suarez) four-one; whilst in the same group World Hopes posted a three-two win against Oceania (Ruofei Rao, Angela Zhan, Grace Yee).
Success for Asia and World Hopes; in the corresponding Girls� Team group it was victory for Europe and Africa.
Europe (Adina Diaconu, Lisa Lung, Daria Trigolos) beat North America (Crystal Wang, Amy Wang, Ivy Liao) five-nil; Africa (Sarah Abousetta, Fadwa Garci, Yassamine Bouhenni) defeated Barbados (Kenady King, Janae Lewis,) Jazel Griffith) by four matches to one.
Tyrese Knight unbeaten against Oceania Photo By: Deanzer Roberts
Ben Gould remained calm and focused to guide Oceania to victory
Photo by Deanzer Roberts
