The NSC, in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has indicated in a release that the tournament is expected to attract the cream of the country’s top players including 2006 junior sportswoman Trenace Lowe.
“She (Lowe) will have strong challenges (coming) against 2004 and 2005 junior sportswoman Michelle John, while 2003 junior sportswoman Jody Ann Blake will want to stamp her authority in the women singles,” the release stated.
In the men singles, 2005 and 2006 champion Christopher Franklin will have to be in top form against top local male players Idi Lewis, Andrew Daly, Paul Meusa, Colin France, Godfrey Munroe, Tristan Gaime, Roger Persaud and others.
The next generation of high calibre players including 2006 Caribbean mini-cadet champion Nigel Bryan, Joel Alleyne, Warren Hackshaw, Stephan Patior, Samuel Fraser, Brandon Baldie, Elishaba Johnson, Jamal and Denzil Duff and Joshua Sue-Ho will tussle for the boys’ title.
Tiffany Blair and Ambrose Thomas are expected to headline the girls’ category.
Some of the categories include:Boys’ nine years & under, “C” Class Open, Girls’ nine years & under, “B” Class Open, Boys’ 11 years & under, Women Singles, Girls’ 11 years & under, Men’s Singles, Boys 13 years & under, Men’s Doubles, Girls’ 13 years & under, Women’s Doubles, Boys’ 15 years & under, Mixed Doubles, Girls’ 15 years & under, 21 years & under Open, Boys’ 18 years & under, Girls’ 18 years & under, Novices, Boys’ Doubles, 35-years & over, Girls’ Doubles, 55- years & over, Junior Mixed Doubles and Boys’ and Girls’ Under-7.
A player must be the stipulated age on or before December 31st, 2007 to play in a particular category. For example: Seven years and under (born on or after 1st January 2000), Nine years and under (born on or after 1st January 1998), 11 years and under (born on or after 1st January 1996), 13 years and under (born on or after 1st January 1994), 15 years and under (born on or after 1st January 1992), 18 years and under (born on or after 1st January 1989), 21 years and under (born on or after (1st January 1986).
Trophies and medals will be given to the top three finishers in each category. The deadline for submitting entries for the annual Mashramani tournament is on February 14 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall at 4:30 pm.
Meanwhile, the GTTA will serve off a Male and Female Novices Tournament on Saturday and Sunday from 11am on both days at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The Novices tournament is expected to attract players from the beginners’ table tennis coaching programme for schools in Georgetown currently being conducted by Linden Johnson. The deadline for submitting entries for the Novices tournament is Friday.
