Gerada in Gozo upset

Malta's table-tennis venture at the Gozo Sports Complex came to a sad ending yesterday when our top player Simon Gerada failed to reach the final of the singles event and had to be content with a bronze medal.

Gerada lost a five-set contest to Cyprus player Kirill Talavanov, who has Bulgarian origins. The result was a big upset for Gerada. He was looking to make up for the final he lost two years in San Marino to Luxembourg's Trajan Ciocu who yesterday retained his GSSE title.

The table-tennis contribution was rather poor this time around compared to previous GSSE showings.

The women's squad finished without a single podium place and apart from yesterday's bronze, the table-tennis clan will return to the 'mainland' with just one other medal in their luggage - a silver won by Gerada brothers Simon and Wayne in the doubles event.

The Malta Table-Tennis Association had rarely faced similar situations in the past. Surely, this should not be considered as crisis but now long-time officials Joe Borg Cardona, Alex Anastasi and company will have to regroup forces ahead of the next GSSE.

Meanwhile, despite enjoying home support, Gerada started rather nervously even though he almost managed an incredible comeback in the opening set, which he lost 11-9, when he forced his way back into the reckoning after going down 10-1 at one point.

The Maltese/Australian then found his true form and moved 2-1 ahead - 11-6 and 11-4. But that seemed to be the end of his fight as he surprisingly forfeited the next two sets.

Talavanov drew level after winning the fourth game. Then, four points at the start of the tie-breaker proved a good enough cushion for Talavanov to reach the final.

There was no balance in the final match as Ciocu trounced his Cypriot opponent 3-0. The women's title, contested by San Marino duo Yan Chimei, of Asian origins, and Russian-born Gallina Anpilova, was won by the former 3-1.