IF there was a euphemism for the combination of tenacity, pride, strength and discipline then that would be Kaysan Jamil Ninvalle.
The young table tennis prodigy has been at the helm of Guyana’s cadet and pre-cadet tennis for more than five years and is known to be a fierce and vociferous fighter on the table.
Exactly one week ago the local table tennis fraternity was given another exhibition of his grit and determination at the Pre Cadet and Cadet National Championship. Then, Ninvalle won the Under-15 title and placed second in the Under-13 category..
Even though battling flu-like symptoms which kept him away from school and practice for three consecutive days leading up to the tournament, the burly 13-year-old pleaded with his parents for a chance to participate.
“I was vomiting and really couldn’t eat much. I didn’t go to school and was just at home resting,” Ninvalle said in an exclusive interview. “I know how much participating in the tournament meant so even though I was ill I just had to compete.”
At the National Championships the 2016 Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year was cruising to victory against an improving Jonathan Van Lange in the final of the Under-13 competition when one of the queerest things to happen in local table tennis occurred.
Sponsored by Colours Boutique, Ninvalle was ahead 8-3 in the final game of five when he was stung in the face by a bee. This forced a stoppage of the match and with a swelling face and in obvious pain, the Chase Academy second form student chose to continue but lost the match 9-11 thereby losing the Under-13 title.
Ironically, Ninvalle had earlier in the day defeated Van Lange in the semi-final of the Under-15 competition and one week before was romping with the bigger ‘boys’ while securing a semi-final place in the Men’s Under-21.
Following the Under-13 final, Ninvalle explained that he suffered several bouts of cramps which left him and his team, headed by National coach Linden Johnson, ambivalent about his participation in the Under-15 final, scheduled to be played two hours later.With his face gaining size with each passing hour the young star convinced his team that he had enough fuel to go the distance with Niron Bissu, who in recent times had stamped his authority as the division’s kingpin.
Digging deep, the ‘baby face assassin’ took the first two games. However, Bissu came back strong and restored parity as the National Gymnasium erupted in applause as the two entertained with sublime loops and smashes. In the fifth game which decided the winner, the 2016 Caribbean Under-11 gold medallist defeated Bissu 11-4 in a masterly display of attack and defence.
“I play with a lot of passion so it’s difficult for me not to be emotional when I win or lose,” the newly crowned Under-15 king revealed.
National coach Linden Johnson who has been in charge of Ninvalle since he (Ninvalle) entered tennis eight years ago, agreed. “Kaysan is a fighter. During the last tournament he wasn’t in the best of health but he never used that as an excuse.
“As it turned out he gave an excellent performance. Kaysan is one of the most talented players in the country, very strong, very disciplined and very consistent, which provides motivation and encouragement for any coach.”
According to Johnson, plans are already in place for Ninvalle to be one of a few to commence preparation for the 2022 Youth Olympics.
“I think that once he continues in this vein and keeps focus then the sky is the limit. In a nutshell his future in table tennis looks very promising.”
