THE Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Wednesday afternoon, launched the CNOOC- Guyana Table Tennis Association Nationwide National Schools’ Table Tennis Championship.
The programme, which is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, is being sponsored by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL).

During the launch in the auditorium of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development, Minister Manickchand highlighted that the programme compliments the Ministry of Education’s efforts to ensure that each student is exposed to a sport before graduating from secondary school.
She noted that the Government of Guyana continues to invest in the sector to ensure each child has access to educational opportunities so that he/she can reach his/her full potential.

Meanwhile, GTTA President, Mr. Godfrey Munroe, said the Championship aims to serve as a catalyst for creating a talent identification development and incubation systems for the recruitment, training orientation, development and teaching of life-long learned skills which will positively enhance the profile and marketability of the sport and impact higher performances and sustainability of the sport at the national and international levels.

People’s Republic of China Embassy in Guyana, Charge de Affaires, Counsellor Mr. Huang Rui, noted that Table Tennis is one of the most popular sports in China and China has, over the years, supported Guyana in the development of the sport. He commended the team for its efforts in organising the event.

President of CPGL, Mr. Lui XiaoXiang said the company was happy to be a sponsor for such an event.
The four million dollars ($4,000,000) programme will see regional competitions held in regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Ten and Georgetown. It is expected to be run from December 2023 to February 2024.