Three-island competition to become the norm

Guam ping-pong players thoroughly enjoyed the 9th Goodwill Table Tennis Tournament held last March 29 and 30 at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino that they are expected back later this year for the final tournament of the twice-a-year competition.

In an email to the Saipan Tribune, Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association spokesperson Budhi Gurung said that Hisamitsu Hamamoto, Carlos Gumataotao, and Edmund Ho of the Guam Amateur Table Tennis Association will definitely be back for the 10th Goodwill Table Tennis Tournament set for September or October this year on Saipan.

“Guam players promised that they will practice regularly to be more consistent so that they may perform better when they come to Saipan to join the second and final round of the competition at the end of this year,” he said.

The Nepalese ping-pong player added that finally having Guam in the mix makes the level of competition better for the goodwill series.

“It really seems that our upcoming table tennis tournaments will be more competitive in the near future as we challenge each other. It is a golden opportunity for all of us to share our experiences and skills,” said Gurung who works for Sablan Topline.

Tinian A won the 9th Goodwill Table Tennis Tournament, dropping only four games in 40 head-to-head matches against two teams from Saipan, Guam, and their sister team, Tinian B. The team competition was held in the event’s first day, March 29.

Saipan A, meanwhile, finished runner-up with Guam taking third place and Tinian B and Saipan B finishing fourth and fifth.

In the singles competition held the following day, May 30, Tinian A’s Mark Ma got the better of Saipan A’s Jean Shi in four sets, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11. Saipan A’s Su Yong Dong, meanwhile, salvaged third place with a 13-15, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 victory over Luke Lu of Tinian A.

In the doubles, Ma and Tinian B’s Liang Wei Bin teamed up to defeat Shi and Su, 7-12, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5. Luke and Robin Lu of Saipan A settled for third place.

Paddlers from the CNMI’s gambling capital thus successfully defended the goodwill championship it won in April 2007 when only two teams representing Tinian and Saipan battled for the championship. Saipan avenged the loss, by winning the second round late last year.