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Team Guam swept in boys’ and girls’ competition

THE University of Guam Field House was prepped and ready to go yesterday as the world’s best cadet table tennis players were set to get their game on in the 2012 World Cadet Challenge. Players along with their coaches from 34 countries are representing their regional teams, to include Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, World Hopes, Oceania, and our very own island of Guam. Athletes kicked off the tournament with team play yesterday in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. Taking on three teams throughout the day, both divisions for Team Guam had a rough day as they were swept and finished the day with a 0-3 record.

Going up against a very tough and more experienced World Hopes squad in their first match of the day, Team Guam ran into trouble as they were swept and dealt a 5-0 loss. Starting things out for Team Guam was Jenny Kim who took on Monapsorn Saritapirak. Kim managed to muster four points in the first set against her opponent. However, it was only a matter of time before she eventually fell in straight sets 11-4, 11-1, 11-3.

The second match for Team Guam pitted Julie Jasmin taking on Vannessa Tsz Ching Leung. Leung had no problems with her opponent as she cruised to an 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 victory. While the remaining host team members were swept in their matches each gave a valiant effort and avoided being shutout in each of their matches. In their final two matches of the day, Guam took on North America and Europe. Much like their first opponents of the day, the young ladies gave it their all only to be beaten 5-0 each time.

Boys' action

In their opening match of their competition, Team Guam’s boys took on Team Europe. Starting things out for Guam was Gabriel Certeza who took on Konstantin Chernov. Chernov proved to be the more dominant player on the tables as he dished out an 11-1, 11-1, 11-2 defeat on Certeza. Despite losing his second match of the day against Europe, Certeza came back in the fifth game with a better performance against Bence Majoros. Majoros finished the match off with an 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 victory.

The remaining two representatives for Guam couldn’t pull out a victory and were swept in straight sets. Min Sung Kim fell twice against Europe, while Johan Jung suffered defeat against Patryk Zatowka.

The 2012 World Cadet Challenge is scheduled to resume today with team action at 9:30 a.m. at the University of Guam Field House. An awards ceremony at the conclusion of the team events is slated for 7:30 p.m.