Director of Sport Neil Kumar yesterday declared that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport was working in partnership with the Guyana Table Tennis Association GTTA to ensure that facilities are in place for the further development of the sport. Kumar made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the third annual Digicel sponsored Schools table tennis team championships at the National Gymnasium.
He also disclosed that his ministry would continue the distribution of table tennis boards to schools this week.
Acting president of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe yesterday told Stabroek Sport that some 30 tables are due to be distributed. Kumar, who said he wanted to acknowledge the contribution of the late former president of the GTTA, Henry Greene, said that he was happy that the tournament was held adding that he was also extremely pleased to see so many youngsters playing the sport as participation in sports such as table tennis was beneficial to the development of the youths.
Kumar also lauded the efforts of Munroe is ensuring that the tournament was held referring to him as the “livewire” behind the association’s plans to stage this and other tournaments not to mention its upcoming annual general meeting later this month.
He also urged the players to participate in the spirit of fair play adding that may the best team win.
Also speaking yesterday was Digicel’s Sponsorship Manager and former national athlete Gavin Hope who re-iterated that his company was happy to partner with the GTTA. Hope said that he was happy to see the strides made by the GTTA and gave a commitment of the company’s intention to continue sponsorship of the event. He also made a pact with the players to get their parents behind them.
Munroe, who chaired the proceedings, thanked the sponsors and informed them of follow up programmes. He was effusive in his praise of the sponsors and said sponsorship of the tournament was critical to the GTTA’s achieving its aim of unearthing new talent and the transitioning of players into the competitive realm.
