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Fort Lauderdale, Florida • July 3-7, 2002

 

George Brathwaite Wins Over 60 ... Again....

George Brathwaite may be 66 (and vice president of USA Table Tennis), but he still thinks he's a kid as he battles it out with his "youngers" in the Over 50 and Over 60 Men's Singles event - which he estimates he's won at least five times here at the U.S. Open. Add about nine Over 50 titles to that, and that's a lot of hardware ... or cash.

George defeated Richard Hicks in the Over 60 Men's Singles final here, at 8,7,3. Incredibly, George not only didn't lose a game in the event (five rounds), he didn't even have to go to deuce, or even give up 9 in a game. Even more incredible, his opponent - Hicks - also didn't allow more than 8 in a game until the finals. The two Over 60 finalists will be seeded third and fourth in the Over 50 Men's Singles event, and hope to meet again.

George said he had prepared for the tournament by doing lots of physical training for the past six weeks, including lots of distance running and sprints. It's not often that a 66-year-old goes out to do sprints, but George isn't the average 66-year-old.

Against Hicks (a chopper with long pips), George said, "Richard can vary spin constantly, so depending on what he does, I have to react accordingly, and pick my shots." He said he had to mix up pushing and topspinning very patiently, then end the point with a kill when the shot was there. 

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