A DAY of smashing table tennis action is anticipated when the best players in Berbice go into action tomorrow at the Port Mourant Training Centre, Corentyne, Berbice, for the second edition of a one-day open ‘Knock Out Championship Tournament’ organised by the Berbice Table Tennis Sub Association.
Throughout the past week the ancient county was a buzz as racquet wielders sharpened their skills at all available venues for the big day. The tournament is being sponsored by overseas based Berbician, Souvenir Ranmdyal, a 2009 Hall of Fame Realtor of Queens, New York, with assistance from two other overseas based Guyanese and former Berbice players, Patrick Narine and Lanny Anthony.
The championship tournament is sanctioned by the Guyana Table Tennis Association.
The competition is open to persons living and working in Berbice for the last three years and, both males and females are invited to participate in their respective categories.
A number of categories including some new ones will be contested including the U-11, U-13, U-15, U-18, and novices.
Over 75 entries have so far been received and serve-off time is 09:00 hrs. Incentives will be presented to the top three finishers in each division, while prizes will also be awarded to the most outstanding player, most promising, and most improved, among others.
Transportation will be provided for all players; a bus expected to leave the Shell Gas Station in New Amsterdam at 08:00 hrs to take players to the venue. Officials from The Guyana table Tennis Association including President, Godfrey Munroe, and General Secretary, Linden Johnson, are expected to be on hand to overlook the proceedings and distribute prizes.
Players are expected from all over the ancient county including Skeldon, Rose Hall, New Amsterdam, Berbice River, Canje and West Berbice. A number of institutions and schools are expected to participate including: the Guysuco Training Centre, the University of Guyana, and the Guyana Police force.
The sponsor and members of his family and friends are expected to be on hand to meet the players, declare the competition open, and to assist in the distribution of some of the prizes at the end of the competition.
Among the prominent players expected to be in action are: Gibran Hussein, Floyd Conway, Richard Bacchus, Levi Nedd, Omraj Singh, Rono Joseph, Ryan Alexander, Michael Newland, Brentnol Richards, Sherwin Sahadeo, Briton Murray, Joshua Lalbachan, Jadon Conway, Julian Haniff, Nicolas Lawrence, Stephen Sankar and top female players, Desiree Lancaster and Petal Bennett.
(Michael Khan.)
