The country’s top senior players continue to be missing from the list of players named to participate in the upcoming Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Top 16 tournament and there has been no explanation from the GTTA for their absence.
According to a release from GTTA’s Public Relations Officer, Patrick Triumph, “Guyana’s best table tennis players are set to receive great cash prizes in a one-day invitational super-16 (Men), super-6 (women); and pee-wee handicap (pre-cadets and cadets) on March 17 starting at 9am sharp at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.”
However, two-time national men’s singles champion and current General Secretary, Godfrey Munroe, former Caribbean Junior Champion and Caribbean men’s singles bronze medal winner Idi Lewis and Christopher Franklyn and overseas-based Paul David, two members of the national men’s team that participated in last year’s Caribbean championships, are not included in the final list of 16 players to contest the senior category.
Apart from David, the three players, Munroe, Lewis and Franklyn have not been invited to prepare for the upcoming Caribbean championships either.
David was initially named to compete in the Top 16 tournament according to an earlier release from the GTTA but his name is missing in this latest release.
Another top player missing is former national player Andrew Daly.
Current national champion Nigel Bryan, heads the list with the other players being Edinho Lewis, Paul Meusa, Joel Alleyne, Colin France, Warren Hackshaw, Remmy Taitt, Devon Richmond, Denzel Hopkinson, Brad Belle, Brandon Belle and Gibran Sarfaraz.
The stand-by players are David Duncan, Stefan Corlette, Sunil Logan and Sachin Panday.
In the Super-6 (Women) competition the players invited are Trenace Lowe, Jody-Ann Blake, Natalie Cummings, Chelsea Edghill, Desiree Lancaster and Akeica Nedd.
The 16 pee-wee players invited are: Elishabba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Miguel Wong, Rajiv Muneshwar, Jeremy Singh, Khalil Ninvalle, Jordan Conway, Darell Belle, Niron Bissu, Shavieq Noorwijk, Jamaali Homer, Priscilla Greaves, Selenas Jackman, Neveah Clarkston, Kayson Ninvalle and Randy Rambarran.
The Masters’ tournament will be contested in the respective categories; 40 & over; 45 & over; 50 & over and 55 & over will be played from 11am on March 17 and is open to all eligible players.
According to the release, over $1,300,000 in prize money and trophies will be awarded to the three top players in the respective invitational categories.
In the super-16 (men) the prizes will be $300,000 to the winner, $200,000 to the runner up and $100,000 for placing third.
In the super-6 women competition the winner will receive $200,000 with $150,000 for the runner up and $75,000 for third place.
In the pee-wee handicap, featuring the cadet and pre-cadets, the cash prizes will be $100,000 for the winner, $75,000 for the runner up and $50,000 for third place.
The GTTA, the release stated, has invited four national players from other Caribbean countries to participate in the Super-16 (men) tournament.
Interested players are asked to register with the tournament coordinator, Linden Johnson on telephone numbers 688-2596; 621-7630 or 223-3468.
