Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said yesterday that the Caribbean needs to embrace a long term development programme for table tennis.
Dr. Anthony expressed those sentiments while delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony of the 8th Caribbean Regional Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championship at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) yesterday afternoon.
The Minister urged regional countries to teach their players at a young age given the complexity of relating to older players.
“In some countries they have what is called long term development programme, meaning from very small ages they are being taught how to get involved in sport and we need to embrace that in the Caribbean,” he said.
Dr. Anthony, who disclosed that the sport is presently ranked the 5th highest sport in the world, said that he believes that is testimony to its growing popularity. He said: “Seeing it grow in the Caribbean, seeing it grow nationally is keeping with those international terms,” the minister stated.
He was also optimistic of the Caribbean players changing the dynamics of the sport in the World giving that the Chinese dominate the game.
“We can change that but the only way we can change that is that we have to invest more in terms of training, have to get more coaches that can work with our players, we have to get more facilities where they can train,” he said.
“We, in the Caribbean region, have demonstrated that we can make the impossible possible, just look at what we are doing in athletics and that tells a different story. Who around the World would believe that small islands in this Region would be the dominant ones in athletics despite all the technology that the other regions have?” he asked.
The minister also wished the players from the respective teams well in the tournament and expressed gratitude to the CRTTF for believing in Guyana to host the tournament.
Congratulations were also extended to GTTA for successfully hosting the 8th edition of the Caribbean Regional Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championship.
“I think that as you can see over the past years they [GTTA] are getting more and more regional tournaments to come to Guyana,” he noted.
He further urged the players to embrace the valuable lessons learnt for the tournament.
“It is not only about winning but also about the lessons you take away from the game, it is about physical, how you can be able to be fit and about the mental, how you will be able to think against your opponents,” he said.
Present at yesterday’s opening were Deputy Permanent Secretary, Steve Ninvalle, President of Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe and President and Technical Director of the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF), Juan Villa and Trinidad’s Bob Roopnarine.
Villa thanked Guyana for facilitating and hosting the event and indicated that the championships were very critical in the calendar of the events on the Regional Table Tennis agenda and urged the players to continue being ambassadors of the sport.
Munroe, in his remarks said the significance of the tournament was very important in that it targeted youths.
“Caribbean Table Tennis has had a lasting impact on the youths who have managed to participate in it. There has been great rivalry and bonding and friendships that last a lifetime,” he said.
Munroe who said that he believes that the future of table tennis lies in the youths welcomed the delegations and expressed gratitude to the sponsors and the Government for their contributions towards what should be a successful event.
Juan Villa and Dr. Frank Anthony officially served off the Championships.
