Team Saint Lucia delivered a good performance, finishing third at the 28th CRTTF Youth Championship held at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex Gymnasium in St. Michael, Barbados.
This impressive third-place finish not only highlights the team’s talent but also qualifies Saint Lucia for the prestigious Pan Am Youth Games, scheduled for August 16-21 in Asuncion, Paraguay, as well as the Pan Am Table Tennis Championships set to take place in Rosario, Argentina, from August 24-31.
The youth championship attracted top table tennis talent from 11 nations, including Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Re-public, Antigua, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, and host Barbados.
Athletes competed fiercely in Under-19 and Under-15 male and female categories, which encompassed team events, singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Saint Lucia’s contingent included top players: Joshua Lubin, Manie Eleuthere, Leshon Francis, Stephen Steele, Khamari Har-ris, and Shatal Charles, guided by Coach Chris Wells.
In the Under-19 Boys team event, Saint Lucia fought hard to secure a spot on the podium, finishing 3rd, with Puerto Rico taking 1st and the Dominican Republic 2nd.
In the Under-15 mixed doubles event, Saint Lucia demonstrated skill and determination, earning 3rd place with the duo of Leshon Francis and Shatal Charles, while Puerto Rico dominat-ed the top two spots.
Leshon Francis also excelled in the Under-15 boys singles event, finishing 3rd, as Puerto Rico again swept the podium.
Further noteworthy performances included Quarterfinal finishes for Manie Eleuthere and Joshua Lubin in the Under-19 Boys doubles, as well as Shatal Charles and Stuti Kashyap from Anti-gua in the Under-19 Girls doubles.
Additionally, Shatal Charles reached the Quarterfinals in the Girls Under-15 singles.
Leshon Francis emerged as Saint Lucia’s standout athlete, capturing three third-place awards. Out of the six athletes who represented Saint Lucia, five returned with third-place accolades, showcasing the team’s collective effort and talent.
Spanish-speaking nations dominated the finals across all events, with Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba consistently showcasing their prowess.
The Saint Lucia Table Tennis Association expresses gratitude for the support from the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC), National Lotteries Authority (NLA), and T.E. Touring Services, which were instrumental in the team’s participation in this championship.