Women's TT Cup takes spotlight today

Today's staging for the Kingston and St Andrew Table Tennis Association's Women's Cup could feature some fierce battles. Though nine-time national champion Yvonne Foster isn't competing, a host of future prospects will match shots at the Excelsior High School auditorium when play begins at 9 a.m. Heading the entry list is national Under-13 and Under-15 champion Solesha Young.

Young, who teamed with Jamaica's top male player Simon Tomlinson for the national mixed doubles crown, will face familiar foes when the women's open serves off at noon. That field also includes tall, powerful Portlander Brittany Murray, 2017 Caribbean Region Pre-Cadet Under 11 winner Liana Campbell; Kelsey Davidson, who took the Pre-Cadet silver in 2016; skilful Larissa McLaughlin; and Tsenaye Lewis, the national Under-11 champion. The Open will start with play in four preliminary- round groups, with the winners advancing to the knockout semi-final stage.

This all-female tournament will also have competition in the Under-9 and Under-11 age categories.

Young will have a busy day as she is also down to contest the Under-15, Under-18 and the Under-21 divisions. Murray, is also in the Under-18 and Under- 21 divisions.

At last year's Nationals, she was second in the Under 21 singles and reached the semi-finals of both the women's and the Under 18 singles.