–president hails support from young athletes

By Clifton Ross

Titans Table Tennis Club has ventured into the academic stream following the pandemic which has robbed athletes of their playing time.

Club president, Dwain Dick, told Chronicle Sport that the club has ventured into the line of providing academic support for youths as well as their young table-tennis players.

Dubbed the ‘Titans Virtual Learning Academy’, the virtual online sessions offer classes in human and social biology, Mathematics, English, EDPM, Physics, and Information Technology, among other subjects, with prices ranging from GY$4,000-$10,000 monthly.

There will also be Grades 6, 7-11 and evening classes for adults who might be interested in writing CSEC. Since Covid-19 unleashed its havoc a few months ago, table tennis has been dormant due to the respecting of the social distancing and quarantine guidelines.

The club president said that due to the state of things, it was important to ensure that while players were away from live action as well as schools, which remain closed, they maintained that balance of academics, which usually goes hand-in-hand with sports.

According to Dick, this new format will allow athletes along with those within the general public, to keep that necessary balance needed to perform at a high mental level during these tough times.

Also, with a number of the club’s junior national athletes being heavily involved in their academic lives, Dick believes that it strengthens their approach to table tennis, which calls for exceptional concentration, mental prowess and reflexes.

By making use of the time away from schools or even regular gatherings at classes, the young athletes can remain fixed in a positive environment amidst the toughest of recent times, which have afflicted sportsmen and women globally.

Dick also advocated for the local associations to keep working closely with their athletes during this time of distancing and solitude.

He was also strong on associations keeping track of players workout regimes, eating habits and dedication to working on whatever they can with regard to their skillset during lockdown, as to ensure that they are well-prepared to re-enter a normal sport environment.

The club’s head further maintained that his players were keeping in good playing shape by their own personal means, adding that he’s eager to get back out there with his tennis players and Guyana’s next crop of top stars.