KHEITH Rhynne Cruz added another feather to her cap by ruling the U19 girls singles of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender Puerto Princesa 2023 held recently in one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
Cruz defeated top seed and world youth No. 15 Sally Moyland of United States, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, on Sunday to capture the crown after winning two gold medals in the SEA Youth table tennis championships in Brunei last June.
Cruz swept her three matches in Group 2 of the preliminaries, and clinched a seat in the title match after defeating another PH bet Zachi Mhiel Chua, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5, in the tournament that drew 11 countries and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Hua Ching Foundation, Topcoms, Globe, and the local government of Puerto Princesa.
Cruz also competed in the U17 girls singles but settled for the silver after being defeated by Moyland, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4, in the competition that was also attended by PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, Commissioner Walter Torres, and PSC coordinator for Mindanao Noli Ayo.
Other Philippine team members who captured medals were Ray Joshua Lawrence Manlapaz (silver, U19 and U17 boys), Adelle Leopoldo (silver, U11 girls), Chrishien Santillan (bronze, U19 girls), Zachi Mhiel Chua (bronze, U19 girls), Emmanuel Yamson (bronze, U19 boys), and Matthan Jamin (bronze, U11 boys).
Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron gave P20,000 and P10,000 each to all Filipino gold and silver medalists, respectively.
Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc. president Ting Ledesma thanked Puerto Princesa for hosting the event as the organization also handed out incentives to the Filipino medalists in the amount of P20,000 for the gold, P10,000 for the silver, and P5,000 for the bronze.
Puerto Princesa will host another WTT Youth Contender to be held from April 29 to May 5, 2024.
