Special to the Daily Sun

The Puerto Rican Table Tennis Federation sponsored the first edition of the Guaynabo Table Tennis Open Championships last weekend. The three-day event brought together the island’s best players under one roof for the first time since last June’s Olympic Cup.

“If you look at our participants, they average under 20  [years old], which bodes well for the future,” said federation official Iván Santos, the tournament’s organizer.

A survey of the tournament’s 268 participants shows that the average age for males was just 16.5 years old, and 17.8 years for females.

On the floor, the big winner was Jerica Marrero. The 20-year-old from San Juan, one of the most promising players in the burgeoning sport, took home the gold with a highly competitive 4-3 (11-4, 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8) win over Lyanne Aponte, 18, of Coamo. Carelyn Cordero of Jayuya took third. The three form the backbone of the team that will compete in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez.

On the men’s side, another national team member, Daniel González of Utuado, defeated Alexander Cintrón of Villalba, 4-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7).

Youth was also served as two newcomers to the game won the rookie divisions. Naguabo’s José Sánchez imposed his ultra-fast style on Luis Santana of Cayey to win the under-16 final, 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6). Joel de Jesús of Santa Isabel defeated Luis Serrano of San Juan (11-6, 11-9 and 11-8) in similar fashion to prevail in the under-12 group.