South Africa’s boys and girls table tennis teams celebrate gold at the Region 5 Youth Games in Windhoek. Image: Team South Africa.
(The Post News)– Team South Africa’s rising table tennis stars delivered a stellar performance at the Region 5 Youth Games in Windhoek, walking away with gold medals in both the boys’ and girls’ team events, along with top honours in the doubles competitions.
The boys’ team, Ruan Scholtz (15), Cuten Lodewyk (18), Xhaiden Williams (18), and Amaru Joseph (18), were clinical in the final, beating host nation Namibia 3-0. They dropped just one set throughout the match, and that came during Williams’ game, who admitted his nerves nearly got the better of him.
He revealed that being two sets up made him start thinking too far ahead, which caused him to lose his rhythm. Thankfully, his coach helped settle him, and he managed to refocus and finish strong. Coach Willice Munyisa praised Williams’ commitment to the team, saying his concern for their expectations was affecting his play. A quick reminder to stay present helped turn things around.
On the girls’ side, the quartet of Rochica Sonday (17), Karen Pillay (15), Confidence Moati (18), and Kritika Totaram (18) overcame Namibia 3-1. Sonday anchored the team with victories in both the opening and final matches. Her joy was clear as she celebrated the team’s success, saying she felt incredibly proud of what they had achieved together.
With gold medals in both singles and doubles, Team SA’s table tennis squads have set a high standard for the rest of the Games.
About the Author
Discover more from The Post News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
