Team Saint Lucia showcased an outstanding performance by clinching three bronze medals at the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Youth Championships held at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Wildey, Barbados.
On Saturday, Leshon Francis contributed to the team’s success by securing the third bronze medal in a remarkable display by the national team.
Earlier, Saint Lucia claimed bronze in the Under-19 boys’ team event, and Francis, alongside Shatal Charles, earned another bronze in the mixed doubles category.
Francis demonstrated his skill by advancing to the Under-15 Boys’ singles semifinals after a commanding 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-8) victory over Jamaica’s Ajani Spencer.
Although he faced a tough match against Matthew Cao in the semifinals, ultimately losing 3-1 (13-11, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10), Francis shared third place with another Jamaican competitor.
In the Under-15 girls’ quarterfinals, Shatal Charles fought valiantly but fell to Puerto Rico’s Aurora Bonome in four sets, 3-1 (8-11, 13-11, 11-3, 11-7).
The competition was fierce, featuring powerhouse teams such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana. Despite this, Saint Lucia’s six-member team rose to the challenge, securing three medals and an impressive seven awards in total.
Francis also played a crucial role in the Under-19 squad, which included Manie Eleuthere, Joshua Lubin, and Stephen Steele—who qualified for this year’s Pan American Games.
“All the players we believed stood a chance brought home accolades,” asserted head coach Chris Wells, a seasoned administrator and former player who coordinates the National Table Tennis Association’s schools’ programme.
“We sent six athletes and five returned with medals,” he said.
Wells confidently stated that his team exceeded expectations, especially given the caliber of players they faced, many of whom are engaged in professional European setups.
He emphasised that without the presence of higher-ranked teams, Saint Lucia would have achieved even greater success.
“If this had been a CARIFTA table tennis tournament without Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, we would have secured more awards,” Wells concluded.