By Rawle Toney

President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe, says the fraternity is saddened by the death of a legend and an icon, George ‘The Chief’ Braithwaite, who passed away in the USA on Wednesday.

The 86-year-old Braithwaite was a USA Hall-of-Fame inductee and former Caribbean Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion and many times US Open champion.

“The Chief, as he is known in table tennis circles, made an enormous impact and left an indelible and irreplaceable legacy in the sporting world,” Munroe said in a statement.

Munroe described the fallen Guyanese tennis player as a “a true athlete who competed and excelled at cricket and Track and Field and as a 100 metres and 200 metres’ sprinter represented Guyana at two Caribbean (West Indian) Track and Field Championships in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Kingston, Jamaica.”

“George played a significant role in the history and annals of world politics when he was part of the 1971 Table Tennis Ping Pong Diplomacy, which is credited with thawing relations changed the course of relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China at a very tense period of cold world politics,” Munroe said.

The reunion of this event was held in 2019, 48 years after the 1971 Ping Pong Diplomacy trip to China.

“George sparred with world number Xu Xin in an event which gathered nearly 3 million YouTube views. George was well respected in world table Tennis, a household name in table tennis in the 70’s 80, and 90’s he represented a larger-than-life character and great team player, verified by his many awards, he brought great recognition and always page homage to Guyana,” the GTTA president noted.

Always with a good word of advice, Munroe recalled, adding “he touched countless lives and greatly moved Table tennis forward in Guyana the USA and globally.”

Munroe highlighted that Braithwaite would often say “Table tennis is a Thinking person sport and in any sport, you could practice day in and day out for many years. But unless you compete, you are not really going to get the thrill of being able to match your skills against others which is the ultimate test of the mind.”

“He will always be remembered for his table tennis fierce, competitive, witty tactical style and skill which were only surpassed by his incredible positive and infectious influence and zest for life off the Table.

 May our hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of the joyful times together as they reflect and celebrate a life well lived. I therefore wish to convey our sincere and heartfelt sympathy and condolences to family and friends of Mr. George Brathwaite “The Chief” May his soul Rest in Peace,” Munroe sorrowfully noted.