FOLLOWING the completion of their Annual Independence championships, the executive committee of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) met and ratified a strong contingent of the brightest and most talented prospects young racquet wielders for the upcoming Junior Caribbean pre-cadet table tennis championships. The championships is scheduled for July 20 – 26 in Jamaica and the players named will be undergoing pre-championship training under the watchful eye of Linden Johnson, Idi Lewis, Colin France Dwain Dick and Munniram Persaud, who will be accompanying the team as coaches.
The team reads:
Girls 11 and Under – Naveah Clarkston, Salinas Jackman, Abigail Martin and Simran Bissu
13 and Under – Jamaali Holder, Priscilla Greaves and Kristie Lopes.
Boys 11 and Under – Jeremy Singh, Tyriq Saunders, Khalil Ninvalle and K. Rauche with Niron Bissu as the standby player for this category
13 and Under – Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Rajiv Muneshwar and Miguel Wong.
The team last won the regional honours in 2009 when the trio of Edghill, Johnson and Muneshwar won gold in the Boys 10 years and Under category and they are now eligible for the 13 years and Under category and should truly bring Guyana honours once again.
Added to that, Clarkston, Jackman, Martin and Simran Bissu should be contenders for medals in their respective categories, while the Girls 13 years and Under team with the likes of Homer, Lopes and Greaves have been making great improvements and will be very competitive.
The players have commenced training under a rigid and structured programme aimed at having them peak for this engagement and it is also the coaching panel’s plans to incorporate the senior players to assist the team with their preparation as a means of fast-tracking their improvement and development.
What has been commendable is that a group of parents of some of the players selected had commenced fund-raising activities in view of assisting the GTTA with raising the requisite finance for this engagement.
The GTTA is inviting the parents of players selected to a meeting which will be held at 18:00hrs today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.