By Elroy Stephney

TABLE Tennis coaching continues to be promoted in schools across the country by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
Beginning on June 4, primary schools across the Essequibo Coast benefited from the expertise of National table tennis coach Linden Johnson who held daily sessions for the one-week exercise, which ended on Friday.

Johnson taught the basic skills of the sport while taking the opportunity at encouraging the prospective racquet-wielders to grasp every opportunity at developing their game.
The first half of his training was held at the Agricultural Training Centre in Charity and involved participants from the Upper and Lower Pomeroon districts. His other half engaged schools in the South and was held at the Queenstown Community Centre ground.

The more than 150 participants were ecstatic and eager to learn the dynamics of the game. The one-week course was done in collaboration with the NSC, Department of Sport and the Department of Education.
Region 2 Sports Organisor Debra Daniels coordinated the activity and was extremely pleased with the outcome. She further expressed gratitude to coach Johnson, NSC and the participating students for their overwhelming support.

Meanwhile, Daniels also disclosed that similar follow-up programmes will be conducted while competitions will be hosted to test skill and ability of the aspiring players.
She added that the Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Table Tennis Association is now fully active and will facilitate the advancement of the sport in the Region as well as providing gear for future tournaments.

Previous tournaments were already held for players aged 8 to 18 and according to Daniels, the sport is gaining tremendous momentum, hence this current programme will further boost the capability of more players who will compete in the future, given that they will be knowledgeable,” she concluded.