|
|
 |
Progress Clinch the Double Double
20th March 2006
|
|
|
Alex Fegredo
Abbas, Reece, Alex
|
Alex Fegredo is the Star Player
An exciting Sunday of cadet table tennis was served up at Southall Sports Centre this weekend as London Progress cadets clinched an impressive double double when their young cadets won both Division 1&2 of the West London National Cadet League, emulating the success of their Junior teams just two weeks earlier.
Undoubtedly, the star performer of this impressive double victory was Alex Fegredo, who played a key role in both Junior and Cadet victories. In both teams, Alex showed an impressive level of maturity despite being under continual pressure to perform in the number one position. There is no doubt that Fegredo is ready to take his place in the London Progress Junior and Senior British League teams for the 2006/07 season.
The other two Progress heroes for the season were London Academy stars, Abbas Alharazi and Reece Manning.
|
Abbas, Zak, Yilli
|
Zak Show His England Potential
Fegredo was not the only one to merit star rating. Young Zak Zilesnick, who clearly has England potential, was obliged to play up in division 1 to replace the absent Reece Manning, and Zak proved he was up to the challenge. So not only did this eleven year old help clinch the division 1 title, his earlier performances ensured success in Division 2 in both the cadet and Junior Leagues.
|
Wembley High Nearly Nicked It
A very talented Wembley High School squad, coached and managed by former England star, Gareth Herbert, so very nearly claimed the title and just a single game separated the Progress Champions from the Wembley runners-up. What was particularly great about this titanic struggle was the good natured sportsmanship between all the teams in the division. Eli Baraty's Barnet squad, Jason Sugrue's West London Academy team and Gideon Ashison's Oaklands team were also highly competitive and capable of winning the title.
It was a similar story in Division 2 where London Progress, led by Yilli Vllasolli and supported by George Lloyd and Danny Spaull, saw off a determined challenge from Barnet, West London Academy and Oaklands, with just three points separating the top four sides.
|
TT Greenhouse Making The Difference
The real winners of these tournaments are, of course, every youngster who takes part, and in this respect, the West London Table Tennis Centre, based at the Southall Sports Centre must feel very pleased with itself. Funded by Sport England, and jointly managed by Active Ealing, Southall College and London Progress, the Centre has become an arena of high class competition mixed with local community involvement. With the ever expanding involvement of TTK funded schools in the area, these events just seems to get bigger and bigger. Sunday's event saw a record breaking 31 teams battle it out in three divisions. Next season, with two more TTK schools coming on board, is expected to exceed even that figure.
|
Dhivat Pandya
(Interview with Dhivat
coming soon)
|
Progress Take Cippenham Two Star
Dhivat Pandya Makes His Mark
While the cadets were in action on Sunday, some of the more experienced juniors and seniors were having an outing just down the M4 at Cippenham Table Tennis Club, and wouldn't you know it, Progress just had to take the silverware. In an excellently run tournament by Cippenham boss, Graham Trimming, six Progress players went into action but it was their new Indian star Dhaivat Pandya who reached the final after dispatching fellow Progress hopeful, Yasir Mauthoor in the semi. Finding himself two sets down in the final against local Cippenham boy Robert Hansell, Pandya showed some typical Progress spirit and came back to take the title 3 sets to 2. Coupled with some excellent performances in the local leagues, Dhaivat looks set to become a key Progress performer in the next few seasons.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
