The junior national lawn tennis team is set to smash onto the courts today and tomorrow, hungry for a first win in third edition of the Inter Guiana Games (IGG).
Victory would be extra sweet, given that this is the first time the tournament is being played on home soil.
Guyana’s junior players have been at the top of their game in recent years. Dating back to 2010 under national coach Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan stewardship, the juniors have won several international events. In 2010 Guyana won the girls U-10 of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Coca Cola tournament in St Lucia. In 2011 the girls U-14 won the
singles and doubles at the ITF Wilson Junior Tournament in St Vincent. In 2013 the feat was repeated in the singles category and last year Guyana triumphed in the girls U-12 singles at the Antigua Invitational Tournament.
Unlike their success at recent tournaments, the Guyana team has failed to win an IGG title. However, in a telephone interview with this publication national coach Daly-Ramdyhan said she is confident that Guyana can win.
“Home advantage gives Guyana the upper hand… that along with the players’ style of play, can allow the hosts to emerge as victors,” said Daly-Ramdyhan. In addition, Daly-Ramdyhan who is in her eighth year as the national coach believes the players are capable of winning at any time, once there is application.
During several months of training, the coach said she worked with the players on several aspects of their game. She identified that their physical, tactical and technical facets are intact but they have to improve their mental toughness. The competition begins today at 8.30 am at three venues: the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Recreational Facilities in Bel Air and Diamond, and Harry Panday Tennis Club in Bel Air.
Each of the three countries will provide 12 players in the male and female divisions: U18s, U14s and U12s with two boys and two girls in each category.
Suriname won the inaugural title, while last year, all three countries won two categories each, but French Guiana took the top position on sets followed by Suriname and Guyana.
Guyana’s team: Boys U-18 – Daniel Lopes, Khalif Gobin; Boys U-14 – Keenan Persaud, Mark McDonald; Boys U-12 – Jordan Beaton, Heimraj Resaul; Girls U-18 – Nicola Ramdyhan, Aretta Dey; Girls U-14 – Afruica Gentle, Shivanie Persaud, Girls U-12: Kalyca Fraser, Sarah Klautky. Nicholas Glasgow is the assistant coach.
