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BACK in 2011 when the Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships was being hosted here, then president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), the late Henry Greene, committed his entity’s willingness to host the 8th Annual Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championships right here in Guyana. Now under the stewardship of Godfrey Munroe, himself a player of the game, the GTTA has embarked on hosting this Championships from August 9 to 15 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The GTTA will be faced with several hurdles if it intends to host a successful championship and, to this effect, yesterday received a cheque for a substantial amount from telecommunications service giant Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), towards this venture.
Munroe, in accepting the cheque from Nadia DeAbreu of GT&T’s Public Relations Office, said the gesture was one that will be recognised by the local body, who, in hosting this tournament, is also executing one of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Global initiatives.
DeAbreu applauded the GTTA on their efforts to bring such a prestigious tournament to Guyana and called on Corporate Guyana to throw their support not only behind the Association, but sports as a whole, since it brings a nation together.
“Thanks to GT&T for its support and recognition to the development of sports, the sports fraternity and personality, with table tennis being the winner here today, as this gesture is a timely one from the telecommunications company.
This tournament is the incubator of new and rising stars in the Region, as the ITTF Global Initiative caters for young players in the Under-11 and 13 categories, as a means of levelling the competition across the globe, hence the success story this championships would have,” stated Munroe.
According to Munroe, Guyana, as the hosts of this tournament, have the distinct advantage of doubling their squads, thus increasing their chances of coming out on top over their opponents more.
“Normally, when you participate in a tournament of this nature, you are required to send a team for each category, with a maximum number of four players, but as hosts, we have the privilege of fielding eight players for each category. This I feel, will enhance our chances of coming out on top in the respective categories.”
Quizzed on the team’s preparations so far, a smiling Munroe said the training sessions have been intense on a daily basis, with the coaches taking the squad through their paces, as they intend to leave no stone unturned in ensuring Guyana come out successful when the curtain is closed on August 15.
Munroe, Linden Johnson, Idi Lewis, Floyd Conway, Melissa Dow-Richardson and Mooniram Persaud make up the team of experienced and competent coaches who have been imparting their knowledge into the players during the sessions that are being held at the National Gymnasium.
The squad involves players who have been actively participating in tournaments organised by the GTTA and were drawn from schools predominantly with a table tennis programme.
The list reads: Boys’ Under-13: Miguel Wong, Jeremy Singh, Khalil Ninvalle, Simran Bissu, Jordan Conway, Davonna Bess, Sandor Kanhai, Vincent Henry, Khalid Gobin, Tyrese Jeffrey, Joshua Norton, Shamar Williams and Jamal Butts.
Girls’ Under-13: Kristie Lopes, Priyanna Ramdhani, Davonna Bess, Brittney Bunbury and Annabelle DeFreitas.
Boys’ Under-11: Tyriq Saunders, Terrence Rausch, Kaysan Ninvalle, Niron Bissu, Yeudistir Persaud, Hemant Dalip, Ty Dickson, Brandon Jaikarran, Navendra Persaud, Isaiah Layne, Khalid Glasgow, Anfernee George, Sherwin Atherly.
Girls’ Under-11: Selenas Jackman, Nevaeh Clarkston, Abigail Martin and Charlia Webb.
With countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, The Dominican Republic and Suriname already confirming their participation, the Guyanese players are undergoing a rigorous training period, as the GTTA intends to arrive at the best 32 players to represent the Golden Arrowhead.
And in a show of gesture to popularise the sport more in the country, the GTTA has extended invitations to schools to witness the Championships and also participate in their training programmes.
The GTTA will be faced with several hurdles if it intends to host a successful championship and, to this effect, yesterday received a cheque for a substantial amount from telecommunications service giant Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), towards this venture.
Munroe, in accepting the cheque from Nadia DeAbreu of GT&T’s Public Relations Office, said the gesture was one that will be recognised by the local body, who, in hosting this tournament, is also executing one of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Global initiatives.
DeAbreu applauded the GTTA on their efforts to bring such a prestigious tournament to Guyana and called on Corporate Guyana to throw their support not only behind the Association, but sports as a whole, since it brings a nation together.
“Thanks to GT&T for its support and recognition to the development of sports, the sports fraternity and personality, with table tennis being the winner here today, as this gesture is a timely one from the telecommunications company.
This tournament is the incubator of new and rising stars in the Region, as the ITTF Global Initiative caters for young players in the Under-11 and 13 categories, as a means of levelling the competition across the globe, hence the success story this championships would have,” stated Munroe.
According to Munroe, Guyana, as the hosts of this tournament, have the distinct advantage of doubling their squads, thus increasing their chances of coming out on top over their opponents more.
“Normally, when you participate in a tournament of this nature, you are required to send a team for each category, with a maximum number of four players, but as hosts, we have the privilege of fielding eight players for each category. This I feel, will enhance our chances of coming out on top in the respective categories.”
Quizzed on the team’s preparations so far, a smiling Munroe said the training sessions have been intense on a daily basis, with the coaches taking the squad through their paces, as they intend to leave no stone unturned in ensuring Guyana come out successful when the curtain is closed on August 15.
Munroe, Linden Johnson, Idi Lewis, Floyd Conway, Melissa Dow-Richardson and Mooniram Persaud make up the team of experienced and competent coaches who have been imparting their knowledge into the players during the sessions that are being held at the National Gymnasium.
The squad involves players who have been actively participating in tournaments organised by the GTTA and were drawn from schools predominantly with a table tennis programme.
The list reads: Boys’ Under-13: Miguel Wong, Jeremy Singh, Khalil Ninvalle, Simran Bissu, Jordan Conway, Davonna Bess, Sandor Kanhai, Vincent Henry, Khalid Gobin, Tyrese Jeffrey, Joshua Norton, Shamar Williams and Jamal Butts.
Girls’ Under-13: Kristie Lopes, Priyanna Ramdhani, Davonna Bess, Brittney Bunbury and Annabelle DeFreitas.
Boys’ Under-11: Tyriq Saunders, Terrence Rausch, Kaysan Ninvalle, Niron Bissu, Yeudistir Persaud, Hemant Dalip, Ty Dickson, Brandon Jaikarran, Navendra Persaud, Isaiah Layne, Khalid Glasgow, Anfernee George, Sherwin Atherly.
Girls’ Under-11: Selenas Jackman, Nevaeh Clarkston, Abigail Martin and Charlia Webb.
With countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, The Dominican Republic and Suriname already confirming their participation, the Guyanese players are undergoing a rigorous training period, as the GTTA intends to arrive at the best 32 players to represent the Golden Arrowhead.
And in a show of gesture to popularise the sport more in the country, the GTTA has extended invitations to schools to witness the Championships and also participate in their training programmes.
