Derron Douglas emerged winner of the World Junior Table Tennis Circuit which took place in Guatemala from August 6-9, 2015. He was successful despite numerous obstacles which he and his teammates faced during the tournament.
Despite the late arrival of the team in Guatemala City, twelve-year old Douglas defied the odds to stunned table tennis world with his mature level of play as he battled against his more experienced opponents at this level. In the group stage he blazed pass Oscar Davidson of Panama 11-4, 12-10, 11-6.
Douglas went under to Diego De La Cruz of Guatemala 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 but bounce back in his third group stage match to defeat Wilfred Chicas also of Guatemala 11-7, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6. In the quarter-finals stage Douglas got pass Luis Ton 9 -11,11- 9,14-12,11-9 in the semi-finals he was defeated by the top seed Sergio Carrillo of Guatemala 11-5, 11- 4, 11-8. Douglas therefore had to settle for the bronze medal.
The other members of the six-man team fought gallantly but failed to register victories. In the junior division (under 18) there was Benoni Daniel and Shaquille Mitchell. Jakeem Welch in the boys cadets (under 15) while Jasher DeGannes and Ackayla Lucas represented us in the girls’ cadets division (Under 15).
Some Selected Scores
Shaquille Mitchell Vs Gary Castro (Nicaragua) 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 12–14.
Shaquille Mitchell Vs Martian Betancourt (Argentina) 11–8, 11–5, 11-2
Benoni Daniel Vs Jamie Galeano (Spain) 12–10, 7-11, 5-11, 5-11
Benoni Daniel Vs Luis Medina (Honduras) 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11–4, 6-11
Jakeem Welch Vs Federico Cherny (Argentina) 8–11, 5-11, 8-11
Jakeem Welch Vs Miguel Jose Cachafeiro (Panama) 8–11, 8–11, 9-11
Jasher DeGannes Vs Candela Molero (Argentina) 7–11, 2–11, 6-11
Ackayla Lucas Vs Ingrid Marin (Guatemala) 8–11, 11–9, 8–11, 7–11.
Ackayla Lucas Vs Angela Palomo (Guatemala) 7–11, 11–9, 5–11, 8-11