Brian Mutua, Sejal Thakkar, Lisa Wale, and Peter Theuri are among the players who have made the cut to Tier One of the national team pool following last weekend’s qualifiers at the Goan Institute, Nairobi.
Ten players each were short-listed in the men, women, boys, and girls’ categories after the qualifiers played on a round-robin format.
The matches were preceded by trials at branch level at various centres with regions selecting their top players for national pool selection trials.
Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) chairman, Andrew Mudibo said the new national team selection system is geared towards uplifting standards while also keeping players engaged in training and competition over a lengthy period of time.
He clarified that no one had joined the national team yet. He said the top 10 players in Tier 1 in various categories will have to play next month to determine who is in the national team.
“Players from Tier 1 who finish in positions 9 and 10 will be demoted to Tier 2, while the top 2 players in Tier 2 will be promoted to Tier 1 and stand a chance of making it to the national team in May,” he noted. Mudibo said the national team selection will be a continuous process as they seek to give more opportunities to players to qualify.
He said they will also maintain the junior policy and wildcard slot to all International assignments. During the trials, Mutua and Josiah Wandera topped the men’s category with 46 points apiece while Theuri placed third.
Others making the men’s first-tier cut are Yona Owade Jensen, Kevin Mwangi, Kennedy Kojal, Michael Otieno, Alikhan Kazia, Allan Singara, and Edwin Opondo,
Lisa Wale was the top ladies player with 48 points after winning all her matches followed by Sejal Thakkar with 42 points. Lydia Setey, Bahati Rufina, Mary Kinuthia, Audrey Oronda, Nelly Mutuma, Pamela Wekesa, and Sandra Nyaga have also made the first tier.
The boys' pool has Iddris Kulubi, Zayan Pema, Kavan Gudka, Kevin Muchoki, Ivan Yegon, and Ahmed Noorani a while the girls’ are —Khushi Malde, Joy Kimani, Ivy Wabomba, and Edith Jeruto among others.
