Gonzales to banner PH team in China table tennis tourney

Richard Gonzales, Jann Mari Nayre, Japheth Adasa, Seronio Isaias, Sendrina Andrea Balatbat, Rose Jean Fadol, Jamaica Dianne Sy, and Emy Rose will carry the national colors in the competition scheduled to be held at the Jingxi City Stadium on December 12-14.

 (Photo: Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc./Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) will send eight athletes to the “Silk Road Cup” China-ASEAN tournament in Guangxi, China next month.

Richard Gonzales, Jann Mari Nayre, Japheth Adasa, Seronio Isaias, Sendrina Andrea Balatbat, Rose Jean Fadol, Jamaica Dianne Sy, and Emy Rose will carry the national colors in the competition scheduled to be held at the Jingxi City Stadium on December 12-14.

The team, which will leave on Dec. 11, will compete in the women’s doubles, men’s singles, and men’s doubles categories.

Gonzales, the country’s No. 1 player, has won medals in the Southeast Asian Games, the last one a bronze in the men’s singles event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August.

Gonzales also represented the Philippines in the 2014 World Championships, where he pocketed the bronze.

PTTF President Ting Ledesma said on Thursday that this is the first time that the Filipino athletes are joining the tournament.

“We are thankful for being invited to compete in the “Silk Road Cup” and we expect our athletes to do their best,” said Ledesma, who will serve as head of the delegation.

Also joining the trip are coaches Lauro Crisostomo and Johanne Remaneses.