SOUTH Africa were the overall winners of the ITF/CAT Junior Championships Team Trophy which was completed in Windhoek on Wednesday.
South Africa won three gold and one silver medal, Madagascar came second with one gold and one silver medal, Zimbabwe and Mauritius came third with one silver medal each, and Namibia was next in line with three bronze medals.
According to Namibia Tennis Association development officer Kallie Heese, it was the best that Namibia had ever done at a junior team tournament.
“We did very well. We beat Zimbabwe, who were normally stronger than us in the past, a few times, and it was the first time that we had won three bronze medals,” he said.
South Africa won three gold medals in the Boys and Girls u16 categories and the Girls u14 category.
In the Boys u16 final, South Africa beat Mauritius 3-0 in the final.
In the singles, Charl Morgan beat Noel Espitalier 6-3, 6-3 and Pierre Malan beat Christopher Fok Kow 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, while in the doubles, Morgan and Thando Longwe-Smit beat Fok Kow and Sebastien Liu Chung Ming 6-3, 6-3.
In the battle for the bronze medal Namibia pipped Zimbabwe 2-1.
In the singles, Risto Shikongo beat Anesu Kwirirai 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Codie van Schalkwyk beat Tinashe Taruberekera 6-4, 6-1, but Zimbabwe took the doubles title with Kwirirai and Thabo Ncube beating Van Schalkwyk and Shikongo 6-7, 6-4, 10-6.
In the Girls u16 final South Africa beat Madagascar 2-1. In the singles, Madagascar’s Iariniaina Tsantaniony beat Delien Kleinhans 1-6, 6-4, 7-5, but South Africa drew level when Lara van der Merwe beat Finaritra Andriamadison 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
In the decisive doubles encounter, South Africa easily prevailed with Kleinhans and Van der Merwe beating Andriamadison and Tsantaniony 6-2, 6-1.
In the bronze medal play-off, Namibia beat Botswana 3-0. In the singles Megan Lombardt beat Anele Maplanka 6-1, 6-2 and Gina Moolman beat Tshegofatso Tsiang 6-0, 6-1, while in the doubles, Lombardt and Moolman beat Maplanka and Thato Madikwe 6-4, 6-1.
In the Boys u14 final Madagascar beat South Africa 2-1. Madagascar won both the singles matches with Lanja Rakotozandriny beating Andreas Scott 6-1, 7-5 and Ranaivo Toky beating Connor Kruger 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
In the doubles, Scott and Rohan Loubser beat Rakotozandriny and Fenosoa Rasendra 6-4, 6-2.
In the bronze medal play-off, Namibia beat Zimbabwe 2-1. In the singles, Zimbabwe’s Taona Mhwandagara beat Diken de Jongh 6-0, 6-1, but Namibia drew level when Codie van Schalkwyk beat Ethan Sibanda 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
In the doubles, De Jongh and Van Schalkwyk beat Mhwandagara and Sibanda 6-3, 4-6, 10-3.
In the Girls u14 final, South Africa beat Zimbabwe 3-0.
In the singles, Christine Kruger beat Claire Machos 6-1, 6-1 and Gabriella Broadfoot beat Rufaro Magarira 6-4, 7-5, and in the doubles, Kruger and Kelly Arends beat Machisa and Tsitsi Mahere 7-5, 6-0.
In the bronze medal play-off, Lesotho beat Namibia 3-0.
In the singles, Kekeletso Moseme beat Hendrina Apollus 6-3, 6-3 and Manyama Maisa beat Lisa Yssel 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, and in the doubles Maisa and Kamohelo Khabele beat Apollus and Elze Stears 6-3, 6-3.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
