Former Caribbean junior girls champion and three times Junior Sports woman-of-the-year winner Chelsea Edghill has been granted a partial scholarship to Lindenwood University Missouri, United States of America.
The scholarship, which commences August 24, will run for five years and will allow Edghill “to train and participate in high level competition against top level players on a consistent basis,” a release from the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) yesterday stated.
According to the GTTA, the scholarship was granted due to Edghill’s sport and academic exploits and the aim is to see her qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Edghill is expected to pursue Chemistry and Physics as part of her academic pursuits.
Lindenwood University is ranked number four in the intercollegiate rankings and Edghill will play some 13 collegiate tournaments from September this year to April next year before break for the summer holidays from May to August 2016.
She will then resume the cycle for the duration of her studies. According to the release, Edghill will be paired with highly ranked world level junior players from Poland, Brazil, and Ghana among others.
These players will be her team mates and training partners which would allow her to consistently train and benefit from playing with high level players in a highly structured coaching and training environment under the guidance and tutelage of coach Chance Key, the release informed.
“The GTTA see Chelsea as a player for the future and one that we feel can with great Olympic prospects, this scholarship provides the perfect environment to nurture her talents and ultimately advance her chances of achieving Olympic excellence while pursuing academic excellence.
“This opportunity will also fortify Guyana’s team chances at doing well in regional and other competitions she represents us,” the release added.
Edghill has not received a full scholarship and as such, requires support from the Guyana Olympic Association, corporate and possibly government support.
Edghill is currently in the USA preparing for the upcoming China/Latin America Training Camp scheduled for 11th -17th August 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The camp will bring the best junior players in Latin American together with players from the Chinese national team members and elite coaches after which she will head off to start her tertiary academic and sporting pursuits.
