JEDDAH, 14 May 2004 — Saudi player Suleman Al-Shahry of Bajaba Electronics won the men’s singles event of the ongoing LG Table Tennis tournament 2004 last Friday. He defeated Abdul Rehman of Alhamrani Fuchs Petroleum 3-2 in the best of five-game final.

Arab News and Al-Eqtisadiah are supporting the tournament, which is being played every Friday since its commencement last month.

Suleman qualified for the final defeating Alex Buencamino of Jeddah Graphic Center and Abdul Rehman made his way to the final defeating Daniel Santos of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The singles final was keenly fought. Abdul Rehman won the first game 11-8, second and third games were won by Suleman 11-6 and 11-4 respectively, and fourth game by Abdul Rehman 12-10.

Both players, level at two games, looked tense in the decider. The final game was neck and neck, with Suleman needing two consecutive points to clinch the title. The crowd burst into cheers, as Suleman scored the last two points and became the champion of the 3rd LG Singles event.

Suleman was runner-up of the 2nd LG Table Tennis tournament in 2003. His opponent Abdul Rehman was equally good and was, in fact, a strong contender. The game swung in favor of Suleman due to his swift movement, superb backstrokes and forehand shots.

The singles winner is not entitled to participate in doubles event, according to the rules of the tournament. So Suleman cannot play for the doubles trophy.

Some interesting matches, especially in the 3rd round, quarterfinals and semifinals, that preceded the final. There was a major upset in the tournament when Mansour Abdul Rehman of Bajaba Electronics, another talented Saudi player who has figured in all of LG’s tournaments so far, lost his quarterfinal match to first-time participant Daniel Santos of Saudi Arabian Airlines 3-2.

Daniel Santos defeated Reda Al-Berdan of Jeddah Graphic Center 3-1 in the first quarterfinal, while Abdul Rehman of Alhamrani Fuchs Petroleum registered an easy victory over Fareeduddin Ahmed of SGB Baroom 3-0 in the second quarterfinal. In the 3rd quarterfinal, Fareed Yousuf of Tokio Marine Insurance Co. lost to an experienced Suleman.

In the fourth quarterfinal, Alex Buencamino of Jeddah Graphic Center defeated Talat Mirza of Saudi Electric Co. Talat, a talented Saudi player, had done well in the initial singles rounds.

LG General Manager C.K. Cho was present at Alhamra Sofitel Hotel along with Deputy General Manager S.M. Arshad to witness the singles championship matches. Briefing them through the matches was Jeddah Table Tennis League President Asadullah Ghalib.

Matches in men’s doubles event commence today.