Table Tennis: Kenyan Men Cruise Over Rwanda, Women Falter

^{Peter Theuri of City Eagles TTC of Kenya.}

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya started the ongoing Africa Table Tennis Clubs Championship at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi on a mixed note.

Kenya cruised over Rwanda with a 3-0 victory in the men’s category, but the local women faltered in their opening games.

Brian Mutua of City Eagles Table Tennis Club (TTC) led the assault for the country in dismissing Didier Hakibwabasenga of Rwanda Vision TTC by 3-0 straight sets in the men’s Group B encounter.

 Mutua tormented the Rwandese from the onset to savor an easy win contested on Table 3.

 “It’s such a good feeling to start the tournament on a winning note,” Mutua told Standard Sports.

 “I didn’t struggle much as I took the game to the opponent from the word go. He was not a threat at all, but then again, it’s still early days. But the Egyptians will be the guys to beat in this tournament,” Mutua stated.

 As Mutua was basking in glory, the Kenya women’s side had a false start in the continental showpiece. 

Kenya’s City Eagles went down 3-0 against Nakasero TTC of Uganda in the women’s duel as Petrojet of Egypt floored Nairobi City TTC with a similar margin in the same category.

 During the women’s contest pitting City Eagles versus Nakasero, Lisa Wele of Kenya lost 2-3 to Jemimah Nakawala of Uganda in Pool B as her compatriot Audrey Oronde went down 0-3 against Uganda’s Nangonzi Parvin.

 Both Wele and Nakawala were tied one-all after the first two sets but the Ugandan dominated the last set to pull through in the pulsating battle.

_{^{Lisa Wele of City Eagles TTC of Kenya.}}

 Just like their women, Egyptian men started the tournament on a sound note with men’s defending champions Enppi beating Djibouti’s Cotes 3-0.

 The tournament has attracted seven men and six women’s teams.  Egypt has two teams in the championship with the four member Petrojet side also hoping to clinch the coveted title. 

 Last year’s event took place in Lagos, Nigeria which attracted top sides across the continent.

 The club championship will be followed by the ITTF -Africa Cup on May 4-6 as part of the world cup qualifiers.