Juniors end season on a high

The Namibia Table Tennis Association saw its talented juniors in full swing at the Windhoek Junior Open on Saturday, with some upsets and some well-deserved joys at the Wanderers hall.

The NTTA is proud of the development being presented to the masses, but also shares in the hardship some players felt who fell short of this iconic tournament. Additionally, players were celebrated who not only played their final junior tournament, but as hoped, won their respective divisions.

Organisers saw a heart-warming number of entries in the under 12 divisions, seeing regular names in the draw – followed by the first upset of the day.

Pelagia Thomas from Olof Palme Primary School overcame her teammate and 2022 Namibia under 12 champion Justina Namupolo in the first round.

Pelagia remained dominant and won the final 3-0 against Anita Fleidl of DHPS. Karolina Shigwedha and Esther Ashipala shared a joint third place, and Justina winning the plate division.

• The boys under 12 division saw Pascal Eysselein reign supreme again, however Xander Huster put up a brave fight in the finals. Tim von Dewitz and Rene Steinkopff shared the third place and Nathanael Ndemukulunga was crowned as the plate winner.

• In the under 15 girls, Lian Gebauer from DHPS held her ground and took top spot against surprise finalist Pelagia Thomas, third place was shared between Esther Shatika and Justina Namupolo and clenching the Plate title was Esther Ashipala.

• The boys under competition 15 saw Caden Bosman (DHPS) come through for his team with gold, whilst silver was awarded to his teammate Leo Scholz and in third place Oliver Stange and Tillo Gallert making a clean sweep for DHPS in the cup knockout section. Nathaneal Ndemukulunga nabbed the plate division.

• The focus shifted to the Under 18 divisions where three players bid farewell to the junior divisions and started their senior careers.

National team member and number 1 ranked junior women’s player Janika Biederlack took the junior women’s division by storm and retained her title as Windhoek junior ladies champion.

Her teammate Lian Gebauer held on to silver, but put up a brave fight. Joint third place went to Netanya Beukes, who formed part of the national cadet team in 2020 who returns to table tennis after a short hiatus, and Laina Joseph.

• The junior men’s division bid farewell to two players who are rated prospects for the senior national team. Top-ranked Maximillian Bock overcame his long-time friend and competitor, Daneel van der Walt (ranked 2nd nationally) in the final for the Windhoek junior men division title.

Sharing third position were two very promising and upcoming junior men, Jayden Knittle and Prinsley Fredericks. The plate final saw Tim von Dewitz beating his teammate Xander Huster in the under 18 Division, only a few hours after Huster had ended his teammate’s chances for the under 12 boys final.

DOUBLES

The junior men doubles combination of Wanderers Maxillian Bock and Jayden Knittle soared to victory and the runners up Daneel van der Walt and Prinsley Fredericks bravely contested but just fell short. The 2022 junior mixed doubles title goes to Janika Biederlack and Maximillian Bock.

“The NTTA wishes to thank the players for turning out in large numbers, but also the parents for sacrificing time to enjoy the day, also the team behind the administration, Theo Beukes (development officer of the NTTA and Heiko Fleidl (vice-president of the NTTA) for your dedicated efforts towards the sport,” the association said in a statement.