Alexander following in Foster's steps

Anthony Minott, Gleaner Writer

Ashli Alexander, a couple weeks short of her 15th birthday, is quickly following in the foot-steps of Jamaica's top female table tennis player, Yvonne Foster, who though only 17, had won all age group and senior titles from as young as 11 years-old.

On Saturday, at the Jamaica Table Tennis Association National Championships at the University of Technology in St Andrew, Alexander copped the Under-15 and 18 girls' titles.

A student at Ardenne High, Alexander defeated Janique Lee 11-5, 11-1, 11-5 in the U-15 final, and then beat Kristen McKenzie 11-2, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3 in the U-18 category. Foster though eligible to play in the U-18 section, decided to forgo that age group, and concentrate on the senior level.

Doing well

Meanwhile, Alexander who started playing the game at age nine, at the St John's the Baptist Preparatory, said that Foster's dominance of the junior and senior categories has motivated her to step up her game. "Yvonne wins every year and that pushes me to play better. She is a good player and a person that I admire."

Alexander's mom, Ann Horne, is the driving force behind the youngster. "I always encourage to be her best. I usually attend her matches, and whenever she goes on tours with the national team, I am there to support her." She added: "The athletes which receive support from their parents are usually the ones that do well."

Meanwhile, Foster said that Alexander has come a long way in her game and her forehand drive is her strength.

"I think that for Ashli to move to the next level she needs to work on her consistency," Foster stated.

Ashli's elder sister Keshagaye Alexander had similar comments; "I think Ashli is a good tennis player, she just needs to be a bit more patient. whenever she leads a match, she tends to rush the game and it sometimes hurt her. But I think she will continue doing well."

Other results

In other results on Saturday, the Portmore Missionary Prep pair of Javiel Powell and Kelice Sinclair copped their respective U-10 boys' and girls' titles. Larissa Palmer, who graduated from Portmore Missionary Prep in July and now attends St Catherine High, won the under girls' U-13 title, coming from two sets down, to defeat Janique Lee, 8-6; 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4.

Derek Walcott beat Simon Ho-on 13-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, in the boys' U-13 final. Nicholas Mahfood rallied to beat Jordon McKenlie 9-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 to take the boys' U-15 crown.