Franklin wins Star Party Rentals Power 16 TT tournament

Nov 09, 2011 Sports

National Senior Table Tennis Player, Christopher Franklin powered his way to an emphatic win over national counterpart, Edinho Lewis Monday night at the Malteenoes Sports Club in the Star Party Rentals-sponsored Power 16 Table Tennis (TT) tournament.
Franklin combined sheer skill and power against his less potent opponent in the tournament that was aimed at attracting the best 16 players in the country. Franklin swept Lewis 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 and 11-6 in the best-of-seven final at the Thomas Lands-based facility.
National Men’s Singles Champion, Godfrey Munroe and the well-exposed, Idi Lewis did not compete in the competition. In fact, with the National Table Tennis Championships looming, the experienced Munroe is still to decide whether he will defend his title.

Christopher Franklin (left) collects his cash prize from tournament sponsor, CEO of Star Party Rentals, Lennox Cush, Monday night at the Malteenoes Sports Club.

Munroe was not a part of the National Men’s team that played at the Caribbean Championships in Guyana in August. Franklin defeated Nigel Bryan in the semi-final of the Star Party Rentals Power 16 while Lewis got pass Hewley Griffith in his penultimate round.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Star Party Rentals, Lennox Cush, told Kaieteur Sport after the Presentation Ceremony that his involvement was geared at pushing the sport as an organisation and not just as a sport. He said that is necessary to popularise sport.
“This is a continued effort to support the sport and once they (Malteenoes) continue to provide a stable plan for the development of the sport, Star Party Rentals would be there to support. I think this (tournament) is a good step toward expanding the sport,” Cush said.
Cush said that as a prominent sportsman, he understood what was required to take that next step in sports; he observed that without sponsorship and corporate support, sports cannot succeed and that was one of the reasons why he decided to back the Power 16 contest.
He added that initiatives such as this ought to attract “proper” support. The tournament attracted a decent turnout with members of the Malteenoes Sports Club Table Tennis Team planning to be consistent with the event to give players the opportunity to hone their skills.