In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Cruz wins silver medal in World Table Tennis Youth competition

By Jean Malanum

September 19, 2022, 12:52 pm

<p><strong>SECOND PLACE.</strong> Khevine Cruz from the Philippines (left) with champion Vatsal Duklan of India during the awarding ceremony of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender competition at the Fashion Island Mall i Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (Sept. 18, 2022). The 11-year-old Khevine is the younger brother of national team mainstay Kheith Rhynne Cruz. <em>(Contributed photo)</em></p>

SECOND PLACE. Khevine Cruz from the Philippines (left) with champion Vatsal Duklan of India during the awarding ceremony of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender competition at the Fashion Island Mall i Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (Sept. 18, 2022). The 11-year-old Khevine is the younger brother of national team mainstay Kheith Rhynne Cruz. (Contributed photo)

MANILA – Khevine Cruz from the Philippines captured the silver medal in the U-11 boys' singles category in the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender tournament held at the Fashion Island Mall in Bangkok, Thailand over the weekend.

The 11-year-old Khevine, the younger brother of national team mainstay Kheith Rhynne Cruz, survived two tough matches to reach the championship round where he fell to Vatsal Duklan of India, 1-3 (11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 8-11).

Khevine bounced back from a two-set deficit to beat Lai Yong Ren of Malaysia, 3-2 (8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-9) and secure his place in the Final Four. In the quarterfinal round, he outplayed Thanakrit Chompoowisat of Thailand, 3-1 (11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6).

Duklan, on the other, sailed smoothly to the final, trouncing Napop Daraneerut of Thailand, 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-6), in the quarterfinal and clobbering Zhu Lyon of Singapore, 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-8) in the semifinal.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Kheith Rhynne Cruz, who saw action in the Vietnam SEA Games last May, lost to Kim Seongjin of South Korea, 1-3 (11-7, 10-12, 10-12, 6-11) in the U-19 girls' singles quarterfinal.

She defeated Anargya Manjunath of India, 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-5) in the first round and prevailed over Wang Hsiao-Hsin of Chinese Taipei, 3-1 (10-12, 14-12, 11-6, 14-12) in the second round.

Kheith Rhynne also failed to get past the quarterfinal of the U-17 category, bowing to Lee Daeun of South Korea, 1-3 (11-6, 10-12, 6-11, 7-11). She stamped her class over Supamas Pankhaoyoy of Thailand, 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9) in the second round. (PNA)

 

Comments