Chloe Fraser captured the women's singles title last Saturday at the Tournoi National de Vern in Vern-Sur-Seiche, northwest France.
Fraser was dominant on her way to the final, with the rising table tennis star winning all her matches 3-0. In the semi-finals, she made easy work of another player from Trinidad and Tobago, Jordan Thong, winning 11-6, 11-2, 11-4.
In the final, against Angele Guillaume-Petre, Fraser looked on course for another blow, with the Smalta Crusaders player winning the first two matches 11-3, 11-4. However, Guillaume-Petre won the next two games at 6 and 9 and drew at 2-2. But Fraser would not be denied: the 15-year-old crushed her opponent 11-1 in the decider to secure the top prize.
SMALTA CRUSADERS SWEEP: Mateo Mollineau, centre, stands at the top of the podium after winning the ChinaTrinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Festival of Friendship boys under 13s at the National Racquet Center in Tacarigua last month. Mollineau officiated a Smalta Crusaders podium match. His teammates, Jared Simon, left, and Ethan Mohammed, right, finished second and third, respectively.
Photo courtesy of TTTTA
Fraser, her Crusaders teammate Malik Gopaul and Queens Parks Thong are enrolled at the Hennebont Ping Center in France, where they are honing their skills under the guidance of top-quality coaches. In recent seasons, all three players have represented Hennebont in league matches.
Gopaul and Thong continue to play for Hennebont. However, Fraser has a new team for the 2024/25 season. The two-time T&T women's singles champion signed with US Vern.
If a club doesn't have enough women to form a women's team, Fraser explains, the club can form an alliance with another club in the area and have the women play together.
US Vern took advantage of that rule and teamed up with Fougeres TT to campaign in the French National 2 Womens League team championship. Fraser, Klervie Le Gourierec and Rozane Le Bars are members of US Vern, while Maelys Messe is a Fougeres TT player.
Two Saturdays ago, Fougeres TT/Vern US opened their National 2 campaign in style, beating home team Paris 20 Sports TT 8-3.
Fraser recorded three singles victories for her team. First she defeated Marion Boudjema 11-9, 11-4, 11-9. In her second match, Fraser defeated Chloe Gimenez 11-6, 11-3, 11-5. The 2024 Caribbean Youth Championship girls under-19 singles silver medalist was even more dominant in her third singles appearance, dismantling Roxane Desjames at 1, 2 and 4.
YOUNG TALENT: Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) Chairman Larry Romany, left, shares the spotlight with the three ChinaTrinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Festival of Friendship girls under 11 singles medalists at the National Racquet Center in Tacarigua, last month. Unattached player Hidayah Mohammed, second from right, struck gold; PowerGen's Zuri Radge Coomar, second from left, earned silver, while bronze was taken by Zion Fraser of Siparia United, right.
Photo: KWAME LAURENCE
Fraser also played to a doubles victory, teaming with Messe to pass Desjames and Gimenez.
Gopaul also enjoyed competitive success at the end of September. The two-time T&T boys under-19 singles champion won twice for Hennebont in the French Team Championship Regional 1 showdown with home team Rennes Tour D Auvergne. The two wins were crucial as Hennebont emerged with an 8-6 win.
In his opening match, Gopaul defeated Enzo Moreau 3-1. The 15-year-old T&T player had a tougher time against Mathieu Poilve, but won 3-2 to keep Hennebont on course.
Gopaul returned to the table to face Julien Delion. Gopaul and Delion fought hard for five matches, but it was Delion who had the upper hand and the Rennes player won 3-2. However, Hennebont came away with full points in the fiercely contested Regional 1 match.
Gopaul, Fraser and Thong are keen to put T&T on the podium at next year's Caribbean Youth Table Tennis Championships in Barbados.
Gopaul and Fraser are expected to compete in the WTT Youth Contender from November 4 to 7 in Caracas, Venezuela, as part of their preparations for the Caribbean Championships.
