Coach of the Guyana team that is scheduled to depart tomorrow for Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Caribbean Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships Idi Lewis is expecting great things from Chelsea and Kyle Edghill and Shemar Britton.
Lewis, a former Caribbean boys singles champion himself, said he was expecting a good showing from the three players whom he coaches personally.
Chelsea Edghill has distinguished herself by winning medals at the Under 13 and U13 categories and is now in her first year competing in the U18 female category.
The players have been training assiduously at the National Gymnasium in morning sessions conducted by a panel of coaches including Lewis, Dwain Dick and Linden Johnson with assistance from a number of senior players including national champion Nigel Bryan, Edinho Lewis, Joel Alleyne, Natalie Cummings and Chris Franklyn.
Lewis’ three charges participated at the recent Silver Bowl tournament in Trinidad which Lewis used as a warm up tournament to pinpoint technical flaws and Lewis expressed satisfaction with their performance in Trinidad.
Chelsea Edghill, who was recently named 2012 junior sportswoman of the year, won the girls under 21 and under 18 finals in Trinidad, while her brother Kyle made it to the boys U15 finals. Britton made it to the quarter finals in both the U15 and U18 category before losing to eventual winners of the categories Aaron Edwards and Arun Roopnarine.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport Lewis said: “Overall they gave a good account of themselves. It was just a tournament for fine tuning and for me to get a gauge of where they are and where they need to be for the Caribbean championships, Lewis said.
According to Lewis all three players are in a good position and have good chances of securing medals at the championships which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago March 2-8.
“There are at a very good place right now. It’s just some fine tuning here and there that is needed for me to get them where they need to be in terms of getting medals… (I) definitely see them as medal prospects for the Caribbean Championships,” Lewis added.
Nevertheless, Lewis said that the recent exposure at the Silver Bowl in Trinidad and Tobago was exactly what the local players needed to get in the competition frame of mind prior to the tournament.
Lewis who has been coaching consistently for close to three years said that he is eager to work along with the coaches to share his experience and skill with the younger players.
“What I bring to the table is that I’ve been in the same position as these kids, I’ve been there and I’ve won these types of tournament so I know the theory and the practical. I know how to get them out of most of the situations that they may find themselves in by using my experience to help them out any way that I can,” Lewis said.
