The National Sports Commission and Fly Jamaica are the main sponsors of the Guyana table tennis team which is set to participate in the upcoming North American Teams table tennis championships which runs from November 27-29 at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbour, Maryland, United States of America.
This was disclosed by president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and former national men’s singles champion Godfrey Munroe at a press conference Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Describing the NSC and Fly Jamaica as key sponsors who “helped to make this venture a reality,” Munroe said the tournament was one of the biggest team championships in the world with over a 1000 players and some 300 teams participating from novices’ right up to the elite players.
“This tournament will be used to nurture our young talent as they will be given the opportunity to play several matches over the two days, Thanksgiving Weekend,” he declared.
Munroe said the GTTA in that vein had selected… “a good corps of our young players, the cadets, namely the Sahadeos, the Persauds and the Bissus among others.
“We also have a senior representative team which includes Shemar Britton, Nigel Bryan and some or our more experienced players.
He thanked the government, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport,
The National Sports Commission and the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones along with Carl Bowen, General Manager of Fly Jamaica, which assisted with rebated ticket fares, for coming on board with the GTTA.
Bowen in brief remarks, said that this was the second occasion that his company had supported the GTTA after February’s initial involvement which allowed several players to participate in a tournament in Jamaica.
“I’m so encouraged looking at the young players that you guys are nurturing and I’m sure that they will do very well. They look very disciplined and I’m happy to be part of this event for them,” he declared.
“The guys are very young and from what I’ve heard they are very talented.
“I’m happy that the government is helping. I was very pleased to see their efforts and involvement in this as well. It has encouraged us to look a little deeper and see how we could venture into more participation with especially the younger set of players.”
Bowen in closing, wished the players luck stating that he was sure that they would do well at the tournament.
Jones, who also gave brief remarks said that last week Thursday at the board meeting of the NSC, the commissioners, following deliberations, decided to support the GTTA’s initiative.
He exhorted the players to acquit themselves well on the tour.
“We expect that you would go out there, give of your best and demonstrate the skills and the talent that you would have learnt from the GTTA and ultimately represent Guyana as ambassadors while you’re there,” he added.
“The commitment and the support is there from the NSC to monitor your progress and to work in collaboration with the GTTA to ensure that not only this aspect of your venturing out that we will support but you can rest assured that for future endeavours the Government of Guyana and the National Sports Commission, will be there behind you and all that you need to do is put your best foot forward and represent yourself and your association and your country.”
Some 21 players along with s even officials will participate at the championships and apart from the players mentioned previously, other players such as Priscilla Greaves, Joel Alleyne, ray `Copter’ Anderson, Miguel Wing, Alex Hopkinson, Jamaal Nicholson, Nicholas Romain, Colin Wong, Kristian Sahadeo, Brandon Jaikarran and Navendra Persaud will participate in the tournament.
Rhonda Greaves and Dawn Lane will lead the delegation which will include Idi Lewis as coach.
