National table tennis player Natalie Cummings has played some impressive strokes in her career and those strokes recently proved to be impressive enough to attract corporate funding from telecommunications company E-Networks.
A release from the Guyana Table Tennis Association earlier this week stated that executives of E-Networks including CEO VishokPersaud, witnessed Cummings during one of her training sessions at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall last Thursday. What Persaud and his colleagues saw from Cummings in that session reportedly encouraged them to make a financial contribution to her development.
According to the release, “Mr.VishokPersaud Chief Executive Officer (of E-Networks) on a visit to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with former national junior player US based Roger Chang Yuen and other personnel from E-Networks, witnessed the high level of skill displayed by Natalie during practice matches and was so enthused, that he enquired about the young player’s exploits and volunteered to have his company contribute to assisting her with her training.”
The release also stated that the company held a small presentation ceremony at their Camp Street location, to present Cummings, a final year University of Guyana student, with the training grant in an amount that the GTTA wished not to disclose. The GTTA release also stated that E-Network’s chief financial officer Deonarine Sargoo said that the establishment was happy to support the development of young female sports personalities and added that it is always nice to see women involved in sports.
Cummings reportedly expressed her gratitude toPersaud for supporting her development, indicating that she was heartened by his gesture. According to the release Cummings said that the funding will help her in procuring equipment, which would aid in her preparations for future regional competitions where she hopes to represent Guyana.
President of the GTTA Godfrey Munroe was also thankful for the support of E-Networks towards the development of the sport locally according to the release. Cummings finished second in the Women’s Singles of the GTTA/NationalSports Commission Mashramani Table Tennis Tournament. Cummings is also expected to compete in the GTTA Team Table Tennis League later this month.
