Dekop Triumphs In Ping-Pong Tourney
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 16, 2020 11:31
This weekend in the third quarter of the selection tournament played at the BNYC hall, the biggest was current junior champion, Sean Dekop.
The Nhabe Table Tennis club player finished first in the men’s section while top ranked, Tshenolo Mooketsi came in second.
Dekop had a splendid day on the table; he got to a good start beating fifth ranked Bakang Maloka 3-0 in the first round.
A 3-2 win over Joseph Kgatlampane followed in the second round before another fought 3-2 victories over Mooketsi in the third.
Dekop went down to Boago Malobela in the fifth round before winning the series with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over former national champion, Thobo Matlhatsi just a few days after his 18th birthday.
“I am happy with my performance, I went into the tournament ranked sixth but I have managed to do the impossible. I am happy with that. Today, I had troubles facing Maloka and Mooketsi. These guys have been doing well this season and I have managed to beat them today, but under much difficulty. It would be a dream-come-true to win a national team spot. My coaches have been pushing me too hard and I want to thank them today,” Dekop summed up his heroic game with Monitor Sport.
Another former junior champion, Olorato Ramagapu won the women’s section as Tshepiso Rebatenne finished second.
This weekend’s selection tournament featured the top 8 ranked players in the women and men’s sections. The games were played in a round-robin system with each player playing seven rounds.