Tournaments

2018 ITTF-African Championships

Tournament News
2018 African Championships

Dina Meshref regains title, upholds family honour

10 Sep 2018

Disappointed two years ago when beaten in the final by Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike, Dina Meshref won the Women’s Singles title at the 2018 ITTF-African Championships in Port Louis, Mauritius on Sunday 9th September; thus she regained the title won in 2015 in Cairo and concluded proceedings most successful player.

Earlier she had struck Women’s Team and Mixed Doubles gold as well as securing Women’s Doubles silver; a tournament which witnessed a clean sweep of titles for Egypt in which female players were involved.

Dina Meshref, the Africa Top 16 champion, now winner at the ITTF-African Championships (Photo: Adrien Brunette)

by Ian Marshall, Editor

At the final hurdle Dina Meshref beat colleague Reem El-Eraky, having on the concluding day of play at the semi-final stage ended Nigerian hopes by overcoming Offiong Edem (11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6); in the counterpart semi-final, Reem El-Eraky had accounted for Amira Yousry, also from Egypt (11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8)

“I am happy reclaiming my title again after losing it in 2016 but I must also admit that it was not easy winning; there are lots of good players particularly the Nigerians. The atmosphere in Mauritius was good for me and I enjoyed every day I spent in the country.” Dina Meshref

A second win for Dina Meshref; also by emerging successful she keeps matters very much in the family. She has two aunts who have appeared in the Women’s Singles final at an African Championships. In 1994 in Cairo, Nihal Meshref was beaten in the final by Nigeria’s Bose Kaffo; six years later in 2000 in Addis Ababa, Shahira El-Alfy emerged successful. She secured the title at the final expense of Ethiopia’s Ahmed Nebiyat.

Also you can take the family connections further. Nihal Meshref is Yousra Helmy’s mother, Dina Meshref’s doubles partner, whilst Ines El-Darwish the first ever Women’s Singles winner in 1962 in Alexandria is the sister of Dina’s grandmother!

Success for Egypt and success for a fifth time; in addition to the victories recorded by Shahira El-Alfy and Dina Meshref; Ines El-Darwish won in 1962 in Alexandria, the first time the tournament was staged, later and also in Mauritius in 2004 Bacent Osman emerged successful. At the final hurdle Ines El-Darwish beat Ethel Jacks on duty for Nigeria, Bacent Osman accounted for colleague Roaa Magdy.

Notably, when Ines El-Darwish and Bacent Osman won, Egypt secured gold in all events in which female players were involved; in 2018 they completed the feat for a third time and as in 2004 when Bacent Osman succeeded. Once again Mauritius was a happy hunting ground.

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Monday 3rd September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Tuesday 4th September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Wednesday 5th September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Friday 7th September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Saturday 8th September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Sunday 9th November

2018 African Championships Dina Meshref Offiong Edem Reem El-Eraky Amira Yousry

Read more

A rewarding task for Mauritius

14 Sep 2018 2018 African Championships

Quadri Aruna, a step higher, a step ahead

09 Sep 2018 2018 African Championships

Reem El-Eraky excels, upstages illustrious colleagues

08 Sep 2018 2018 African Championships

More gold for Egypt but Ahmed Ali Saleh very much alone

08 Sep 2018 2018 African Championships

No results found.

Photo Gallery

Day 7 - 2018 ITTF Africa Championships