5 Wins For Calderon In German Opener

Saint Lucia’s top table tennis player DeAndre Calderon is off to a flying start in his return to the professional game in Germany, earning five wins in his first weekend of competition.  Playing in the Regional and Upper Leagues South in the Bayern Men’s Oberliga, the 20-year-old from Gros Islet contested two ties with his team, TSV Neuried. They won 8-2 over TSV Dachau 65 and 9-1 over DJK Altdorf. With the wins, Neuried moved to fifth on the table, with Altdorf fourth and Dachau sixth. Against Dachau, Calderon defeated Calin Gabriel Covaciu 3:0 (11-5, 11-1, 11-6) and Tom Sfiligoj 3:0 (11-9, 11- 2, 11- 6). He also teamed up with Dennis Bernhard for the 3:0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-9) doubles victory over Sfiligoj and Covaciu. The Saint Lucian champion bested Alfred Dela Pena 3:1 (11-8, 9-11, 14-12, 13-11) in a hard-fought encounter. Calderon’s first loss came in a five-setter against Georg Gangl. In a seesaw battle, where Calderon was only narrowly outpointed, he eventually fell 2:3 (11-13, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 5-11) Bernhard and Calderon beat Dela Pena and Sebastian Eben 3:1 (11-3, 6-11, 11-7, 13-11). Neuried will go up against league leaders TV 1881 Altdorf in February.  Photo caption: DeAndre...