After more than a decade table tennis returned to an old stopming ground in the form of the GuySuCo Training Centre at Port Mourant as the Guyana Table Tennis Association under dynamic president Henry Greene, continued its countrywide expansion programme.
Port Mourant has produced a number of famous sons in the celluloid sport but yesterday it was
Corriverton’s Gibran Hussein who was to steal the limelight.
The former national junior player who lost the use of his left hand in an accident, was adjudged the most outstanding player following his win in Berbice Open category yesterday.
Hussein defeated former female national champion Desiree Lancaster 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4) in the final to bag the $50,000, along with a trophy first prize.
Hussein also carted off $40,000 and a trophy after being named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
Richard Bacchus grabbed third place in the Open category with a straight set 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, victory over Omraj Singh.
The tournament’s under-18 category was won by Brighton Murray, who overcame Joshua Lalbachan 3-1 (11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7) in the final, while Jamaal Butts defeated Denison Mentore in straight sets (11-3, 11-6, 11-7)to take third place.
Jordon Conway also picked up a win in one of the three categories contested yesterday after playing unbeaten in the four-player round robin under-15 Open category.
Genene Kelman lost one game and picked up the second spot, while Anita Allen secured the third position.
Over 70 players participated in the competition which was organized by the GTTA along with the Steering Committee of the Berbice Table Tennis sub association in an effort to re-launch organized Table Tennis in Berbice.
Among the dignitaries present at the tournament’s opening ceremony were Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Commissioner of Police Henry Green, personnel from the Ministry and Department of Sport, Regional Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha and Mayors of the three municipalities in Berbice among others which include most of the GTTA top brass.
In his address during the opening ceremony, Minister Anthony said he was surprised and elated by the number of players that were set to compete in the tournament.
He also stated that the ministry has a lot of plans as it relates to sport in Berbice.
Trophies and other prizes were presented to the top performers in each category, with $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 going to the first, second and third place winners respectively.
Special prizes were also given to other participants, including young Sherwin Mahadeo, who was identified as the most talented player after taking Lancaster to five games before before losing.
