CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of P&P Insurance Brokers, Bishwa Panday, yesterday expressed his elation to host the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) president Grace McCalman and Junior Development Chairman Surendra Khayyam to reinforce for the 10th time his sponsorship commitment for the annual GLTA Tennis Camp. 

In 2004 under its Interim Committee of McCalman, Colin Sawh and Rawle Sue-Ho, the defunct tennis association was successfully reestablished during an AGM with four years of audited financial statements and eight financial clubs.
But it was the P&P tennis camp which formed the foundation for the successful re-establishment of the junior programme at the Park Players Club under the guidance of former national coach Debbie Bunbury and current national coach Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan.
The majority of the members of the national squad also emerged from the camp and subsequent follow-up training programmes at the club.
Panday, who is no stranger to the sports fraternity, recounted his unwavering support of various sports for decades, to provide safe and healthy recreational opportunities for children and to foster discipline, wishing at the same time to see greater responsibility and commitment from adults to save our children from developing harmful habits.
In this regard, Khayyam who was also at the meeting expressed his intention to take up the mantle of junior development so that Guyana can truly benefit from the sport but admits that it would be a tall order without comprehensive support and a strong and committed executive.
The camp which is geared for children aged 6-18 years is the feature junior clinic of the year which attracts young children at all levels to enjoy fun practice drills and competitions in order to gain appreciation for the sport of tennis.
Parents would then seek to sign up their young ones with clubs with junior programmes for continuation based on their interest.
The camp generally attracts at least 50-80 children which has led to a significant increase in requests for coaches for private schools and clubs and this now imposes on the GLTA and the Tennis Coaches Association new constraints for a speedy increase in coaching capacity.
This year’s camp will be conducted during weekdays for a two-week period, from July 14 to 28 and children between the ages of 6 and 11years will be tutored in the sport from 08:00hrs to 10:00hrs at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
Children 12-18 years will go through their paces from 11:00hrs to 13:00hrs at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue and Camp Streets. Fee per child is $1 500 for the two-week period, with registration to be done by calling 624-1739. All parents are asked to be present to complete registration with fees at 7:45hrs on Monday July 14 at the National Gymnasium to prepare for the opening ceremony.