Johnson, Lewis take top honours at Hubert Lawrence Memorial TT Classic

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Wolmer’s Boys’ student Azizi Johnson and on the female side Gianna Lewis emerged as the top winners at the Hubert Lawrence Memorial TT Classic, held at the UWI Gymnasium, Mona Bowl, on Sunday.

Johnson found redemption after falling short at the inaugural staging of the tournament in 2025, capturing the Open Singles title after overcoming a first-set loss to defeat Logan Royes 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 in the final. The victory marked an improvement on his “B” Singles triumph at last year’s event.

Johnson had been hampered by cramps and fatigue during his loss to New York-based Odingo Mitchell at the inaugural tournament, but recovered this year to claim the top prize.

On the women’s side,  Lewis turned the tables on her younger sister, Tsenaye Lewis, the 2023 national women’s singles champion, to secure the title.

Despite showing strong form in local tournaments in recent years, Gianna had often come up short in major finals, frequently against her sister. This time, she also overcame national women’s and Under-19 champion Keeara Whyte.

“This is only the second time I’ve beaten her in a final!” Gianna said after the match, holding up two fingers in celebration.

In the “B” Open Singles division, Pembroke Hall TTC’s Rudolph Sinclair defeated UWI Games team champion and national representative Chris Lyn 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10 to claim the AnyBet Hubert Lawrence Memorial crystal trophy.

Sinclair advanced to the final after rallying from two sets down to beat teammate Sean Wallace 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7. Lyn, meanwhile, required five sets to get past Conroy Henry in a hard-fought semi-final, winning 7-11, 12-10, 14-12, 19-17, 11-7.

The tournament, first staged in 2025 with the support of AnyBet, honours the late athletics broadcaster, analyst and author Hubert Lawrence, who was also an accomplished table tennis player.

One of the largest single-day table tennis tournaments in the English-speaking Caribbean, the event attracted packed stands and showcased some of the sport’s emerging talents.

Speaking on AnyBet’s support for the event, General Manager of Post to Post Betting Ltd, Danielle Douglas, said the company was proud to support a tournament that honours Lawrence’s legacy, while promoting sports development and youth empowerment.

“Table tennis is a sport that continues to showcase Jamaica’s competitive spirit and talent, and we hope to fuel its continued growth while reinforcing the values of discipline, teamwork, and healthy competition. This sponsorship also reflects our broader commitment to nurturing sporting excellence across disciplines while celebrating the talent, passion, and sportsmanship at the heart of this tournament, and the enduring legacy that inspires it,” Douglas said.