JAMAICA were forced to settle for second place behind the Dominican Republic in the race for the overall championship title at the 2017 Caribbean Region Table Tennis Federation Mini and Pre-Cadet Championships which ended at the National Arena last Saturday.

The Jamaicans had entered last Saturday’s final day leading the medals table but failed to stave off the Dominican Republic’s late surge in the singles and doubles finals.

The wins for the Dominican Republic in the two boys’ doubles finals pushed them ahead of the Jamaicans to finish with 19 medals, comprising six gold, five silver and eight bronze. Jamaica finished with 17 medals, comprising five gold, four silver and eight bronze. The Jamaicans failed to win any medals in the Under-13 boys’ doubles.

Trinidad and Tobago ended with 10 medals — two gold, three silver and five bronze — while Guyana finished with four medals consisting of one silver and three bronze.

Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines were the only two countries failing to win a medal in the one-week championships.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Liana Campbell, seeded at number one, captured her second gold medal by defeating Shary Muñoz of the Dominican Republic 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5) in the Under-11 girls’ singles final. She had also won gold in the Under-11 girls’ team event.

But Jamaica’s hopes of winning another gold were dashed by second seed Priyanka Khellawan of Trinidad and Tobago, who defeated top seed Solesha Young of Jamaica in straight sets, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5, in the Under-13 girls’ final.

The Under-11 boys’ singles final was won by top seed Ramon Villa of the Dominican Republic, who defeated Eduardo Darley in a thrilling five-setter 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10).

Another exciting match unfolded in the Under-13 boys’ singles final, where Marcos Tavarez of the Dominican Republic had a keen battle with Jalen Kerr of Trinidad and Tobago, before pulling off victory in five sets, 3-2 (11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9).

The Under-13 boys’ doubles final was won by the top-seeded pair of Marcos Tavarez and Christopher Rodriquez of the Dominican Republic, who defeated the Trinidadian pair of Nicholas O’Young and Nicolas Lee, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5.

The Dominican Republic’s pair of Ramon Villa and Eduardo Darley captured the Under-11 boys’ doubles final by defeating the Guyanese pair of Krystian Sahadeo and Jonathan Vanlange 2-1 (11-6, 1-11, 13-11).

Jamaica’s Dana Prendergast was named the most outstanding player in the Under-11 girls’ copetition, while Ramon Villa of the Dominican Republic was the most outstanding player in the Under-11 boys’ category.

Priyanka Khellawan of Trinidad and Tobago was the most outstanding player in the Under-13 girls’ category, while Marco Tavarez of the Dominican Republic was the most outstanding player for the Under-13 boys’ equivalent.

The CRTTF) Championships will be held next year in the Dominican Republic.