By GRACE CHAILE –

BUDDING star, Chanda Muma continued with his fine form beating Sydney Sakala to win the Under Eight Junior Invitational Championship held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.

The seven-year-old Muma of OlymAfrica beat Sakala of Ng’ombe PTA 3-1 with set scores of 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7. To reach the semi-finals, Muma beat club mate Vincent Kazembe 3-0 while Sakala humbled Dismas Mutale of Olymp Africa 3-0.

Muma was one of the players that impressed visiting International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) expert Mohammad Atoum during the training camp held in Lusaka last month.

Wisdom Nyirenda, also from Olymp Africa, thumped team-mate Fredy Mwanza 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7 to win the under-10 boys category

The under-12 boys title went to Charles Mutambo of Chipata Primary School, who beat Aaron Phiri of Olymp Africa 3-2 in a tightly contested five set game winning with set scores of 11-9, 12-10, 7-11,6-11, 11-4.

Zaninge Kaira of Olymp Africa was voted the most promising player of the tournament.

In the girl’s events, Olymp Africa’s Janet Mwelwa won the under-10 title after beating Monica Mutale, also from Olymp Africa, with a resounding 3-1 victory with set scores of 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4.

Mubanga Kunda from Olymp Africa scooped the under-14 girl’s category which was played on a round robin system after beating Shila Mwanza and Ruth Mutailoni both of Ngombe PTA School.

The tournament sponsored by Cardinal Distributers Limited (CDL) attracted 35 players who competed in five different categories. Winners and runners-up in each of the five categories received a floating trophy, a racket, pack of table tennis balls, medal and school bag.

Meanwhile, Zambia Table Tennis Association (ZTTA) patron Haroon Ghumra said the introduction of an under eight category was part of the association’s on-going efforts to tap talent at the grassroots level.

“This tournament is part of our on-going efforts to tap talent at the grassroots level and I call upon other business houses to emulate Cardinal Distributors by sponsoring such tournaments,” he said.

CDL director Shafik Patel was happy with the players’ performance.

He said they looked more confident when hitting the ball.