麻豆社区

It's becoming tradition.

The final game of yesterday's Yukon Table Tennis Championships featured two of the territory's best-known names in the sport 鈥� Ryan Bachli and Kevin Murphy.

This time, just as in 2010 and 2011, the 22-year-old Bachli emerged victorious, taking back the title from his longtime coach and rival.

Murphy was seeking his 20th Yukon victory, after beating Bachli in the finals for the past two years.

After dropping the first set 11-9, Bachli roared back to win three straight, 11-9, 11-3 and 11-6.

"The first game and a half, I wasn't watching the ball when I was hitting it, so it wasn't connecting properly on my racket,鈥濃�圔achli explained. "After that, I started watching the ball and how I was hitting it, and it just started connecting a lot better for me.

"It's nice to be number one again,鈥� he said of his victory. "Nobody wants to be second. You either want to be first or third because you have to win for that.鈥�

The territory's top two players were once again the last men standing in the tournament. The two have duelled for the championship each of the past five years.

Bachli looks forward to his annual battle with Murphy, he admitted. The youngster said his coach still holds a better winning percentage in their matchups.

"He always wants to win, so he's always got his game face on,鈥濃�圔achli said shortly after his latest victory. "It's always a friendly competition and we're always trying to be our best when we're playing.

"I鈥坱ried sometimes to trick him, make it look like I hit it hard but just hit it soft ... sometimes it's just a head game.鈥�

Murphy, who is more than 30 years Bachli's senior, battled some minor injuries in the final that limited his mobility.

"I'm playing hurt,鈥濃�坔e admitted post-game, citing issues with his back and knee. "But I try and set those aside when I'm battling against Ryan because I really love playing the guy. He brings out the best in my game and I hope I bring out the best in his. It's fun.鈥�

Murphy, who spends the winter sharing his knowledge with the Yukon's next generation of table tennis stars, admitted his time at the top may be coming to a close.

"There's still the competitor in me,鈥� he quickly added.

Prior to the singles championship, Bachli teamed up with 13-year-old Abed Rajab to win the men's doubles title. The duo beat Murphy and Rajab's younger brother, Hassan, 12-10, 11-5, and 11-9.

Meanwhile, Myrna Bruns surprised even herself as she defeated Xui Mei Zhang in the women's singles final.

It was close, but Bruns won the last two sets 11-9 to come back from a two to one deficit and win her first title.

Bruns, who works at the Yukon Bureau of鈥圫tatistics, admitted she's been honing her skills against her co-workers during lunch breaks.

"It's awesome to play every day. It's the highlight of the day. Fourth floor of the Lynn Building, 12 o'clock, if anybody ever wants to challenge us,鈥� she chuckled.

Bruns said the pips on her racket helped her get by Zhang. The short pimpled rubber on her racket helped reduce spin and deaden the ball in ways her rival didn't anticipate.

"I'm totally surprised,鈥濃�圔runs said of her championship. "Xui Mei's awesome. It's the pips.鈥圫he's not used to playing against them.鈥�

However, Zhang didn't go home empty-handed, as she and Christina Nie won the women's doubles event.

"It's fun,鈥� Zhang said of the sport, which is very popular in China. "It's great exercise.鈥�

Like Bachli, Abed Rajab was also a multiple trophy winner, beating Arcel Siosan in five sets to claim the junior boys championship.

Rajab said his experience at the 2014 Arctic Winter Games gave him a shot of confidence heading into the Yukon championships.

"It was good competition and we actually almost got a medal,鈥� he said of the recent multi-sport tournament in Fairbanks.

Rajab narrowly missed out on a bronze in the men's singles event, losing to Taras Yurkiv in a thrilling five-set battle.

Alysha Gullison won the junior girls event, and Georgia Gaw was first in rookie singles.

Next month, a group from the club will head to Fairbanks, Alaska to take part in a handicap tournament.