Korea, Saipan and Tinian came up with two teams each.
So the six teams with a total of 26 players made this year’s event another exciting table tennis actions hosted by Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association.
The tournament that started at 9 came in team competition and singles only.
Tournament coordinator, Budhi Gurung said that due to limited time, no doubles were played. The competition format came only in best-of-five.
There seven players from Korea including two strong females, Tinian has seven players and Saipan has 11 players including one from Japan and one Guam. There were also five players from Saipan Korean Ping Pong Association.
Saipan A team beat Saipan B, 3-1; Tinian A team defeated Tinian B, 3-0 and Korea A beat Korea B, 3-1 during the first round. In the second round, Saipan A beat Tinian B, 3-1; Tinian A beat Korea B, 3-1 and Korea A beat Saipan B, 3-0.
In the third Round, Saipan A bowed to Korea B, 2-3; Tinian A lost to Korea A, 2-3 and Tinian B lost to Korea B, 1-3.
Korea’s Team A was declared champion, Tinian A placing second, followed by Korea’s Team B team, then, Saipan’s A; Tinian’s Team B and Saipan’s Team B.
In the single matches held on a knock-out basis, Budhi Gurung from Saipan A, Mr.Park from Korea, Luke and Ma from Tinian A reached the quarter finals.
Gurung lost to Mr.Park, 6-11. 7-11 and 7-11 and Mr.Park and Mr.Seong reached the finals where Mr.Park beat Seong, 3-0 to win the championship in singles.
Gurung said they plan to hold 14th Goodwill Table Tennis Tournament on Saipan in October this year.
//
