Jann Mari Nayre makes history as PH table tennis’ first Youth Olympian

MANILA, Philippines – Jann Mari Nayre made history as the first Filipino table tennis player to land a spot in the Youth Olympic Games. 

The 18-year-old won in the Rarotonga qualifiers in the Cook Islands to secure a berth in the  2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games from October 6 to 18, 2018. 

Nayre dropped his first-round match against Ireland’s Cathcart Owen (1-4), but the promising paddler recovered by stringing up 3 straight wins versus Australia’s Mateo Dvorani (4-0), Jordan’s Khaled Khader (4-3), and Canada’s Jeremy Hazin  (4-3).

In the final round, the youngest member of the Philippine team outlasted Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish, 4-2, on Saturday, June 9, to secure a berth in the biggest sporting event for athletes 18 years old and below.

Nayre also represented the Philippines in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but failed to bring home a medal. – Rappler.com