Fuad Esack
Double SA gold medallist Nasr Esau, 18, from Bonteheuwel was crowned SA singles champion after winning his division at last week’s SA Para Championships, at the Proteaville Recreation Centre in Bellville.
Competing in the category for junior boys Standing Singles Class TT10, he faced his doubles partner, Daleel Isaacs, from Salt River’s Community House Table Tennis Club, in the final, coming away with a 3-0 win.
The two players also helped Cape Town Table Tennis win the SA Para team event with Nasr claiming his second gold medal at last week’s championships.
It’s been a busy few weeks for the Bontas player. Barely off the plane from a recent trip to Egypt, Nasr headed straight for the championships. First stop though, Astra School in Montana, where he learnt the basics of the game.
A Grade 11 pupil at Jan Kriel School in Kuils River, Nasr was selected as a junior and youngest on the SA Para team who took part in the recent African Championships, in Cairo, which is a qualifier for next year’s Paralympic Games in Paris. He also attended a week-long training camp in the Egyptian capital, before the African Championships kicked off. Other Cape Town Table Tennis (CTTT) para players who attended the African Championship were Gugulethu’s Samkele Notshe, Belhar’s Jessica Adams and Theo Cogill, also from Bonteheuwel.
Although he had very little time to explore the land of the pharaohs, Nasr experienced a bit of Egyptian hospitality and culture, thanks to some friends made during his stay in the North African country. Ultimately, it was all about table tennis.
“I was so excited to go to the training camp,” he said, “that was no joke, but I learnt a lot.
“Sport is about making friends and having fun,” he said.
Coming up against the continent’s number one ranked player can be an intimidating prospect, especially for a young player on his first international outing, said coach Bernie April, who had worked with the young table tennis star as part of the group of players whom he had been coaching from a very young age.
“For him it was a very good experience to gain valuable international experience and possibly set his sights on the international under-23 ITTF circuit,” said April.
“Nasr encountered very tough opposition as his first international match was against the number one player on the continent, the champion from Nigeria, Alabi Olufemi,” said April, an internationally accredited umpire with vast coaching experience.
A double gold medallist on multiple occasions and current national under-18 Schools Sports champion, Nasr picked up a number of accolades in a relatively short period and was crowned SA Junior TT10 Class singles champion, in only his first year as a competitive player, in 2018, in 2019 and 2022.
“Nasr is a special talent, and will undoubtedly grow into a top player,” said April, “and is already competing against players in the able-body division, and will challenge for honours in the able-body teams in the near future.
“The latter is definitely possible, as he’s got the right attitude to play with anyone,” April said.
He said Nasr’s decision to go directly to Astra School where he started his table tennis career, and meet with his hostel teammates, teachers and coaches, bears testimony to the youngster’s character.
“He is first and foremost a para player that will always consider his fellow teammates and where he comes from. This is what we as coaches try to instil in the players; that it’s not only about winning medals, but also acts of humanity,” he said.
“Para table tennis numbers are growing, since more para schools are seeing successful athletes gaining interest because of success stories such as Nasr’s and a few other players,” he said.
Her son’s biggest supporter, mom Sumaya agrees, saying it’s all about inclusivity and creating equal opportunities for every one.
Esau, who also serves as the current CTTT Para convenor for Cape Town Table Tennis, says she’d like to see all TT players be given opportunities without discrimination or prejudice.
“Talented TT players must be identified and given the same opportunities as our able-bodied youth to develop and prosper by attending yearly training programmes,” she said.