A 34-member National Pre-cadet Table Tennis squad has been named and is set to commence preparation in view of selection by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) for the 8th Caribbean Pre-cadet Table Tennis championship billed for Guyana from August 10-15.
Guyana had given its commitment and undertaking to host this tournament since 2011, according to a press release from the association. Teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Suriname and Barbados have confirmed their participation.
The categories to be contested are: Boys – Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles and Girls – Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles in the respective age groups.
The Guyana squad represents players who have been actively participating in tournaments organised by the GTTA and who predominantly come from schools with a table tennis programme.
The Pre-Cadet championship engages players aged 13 years and under and has been the incubator for the development of regional table tennis.
The championships will provide Guyana with the opportunity to showcase 32 of its pre-cadet players: 8 boys and 8 girls aged 11 years and under and 8 boys and 8 girls in the 13 years and under category.
To enhance their training, the association will have the Junior and Cadet teams and senior players train with members of the pre-cadet team. The release said this would allow for improvement in the technical and tactical skills reinforcing fundamentals while improving confidence among the players.
The team has already commenced training under Linden Johnson, Idi Lewis, Melissa Dow, Mooniram Persaud, Godfrey Munroe and others.
Trials would be held to select the final 8 players to represent Guyana given the number of players in the Boys 13 years and under and boys 11 years and under categories.
The Guyana National Table Tennis Pre Cadet Squad is made up of:
13 years and under Boys: Miguel Wong, Jeremy Singh, Khalil Ninvalle, Jordan Conway, Sandor Kanhai, Vincent Henry, Khalid Gobin, Tyrese Jeffrey, Joshua Norton, Shamar Williams and Jamal Butts.
11 years and under Boys: Tyriq Saunders, Terrence Rausch, Kaysan Ninvalle, Niron Bissu, Yeudistir Persaud, Hemant Dalip, Ty Dickson, Brandon Jaikarran, Navendra Persaud, Isaiah Layne, Khalid Glasgow, Anferee George, Sherwin Atherly.
13 years and under Girls: Kristie Lopes, Priyanna Ramdhani, Simran Bissu, Davonna Bess, Brittney Bunbury, Annabelle DeFreitas.
11 years and under Girls: Selena Jackman, Nevaeh Clarkston, Abigail Martin, Charlia Webb.
It was stated in the press release that the GTTA plans use this tournament as catalyst to jump start and market the national Cadet Youth and Development programmes.
In this regard, the association has already started inviting schools to witness the championships and engaging in strategies to involve children; training and competitions and the marketing of these programmes to schools across Guyana.
