As expected Guyana easily brushed aside the challenge of neighbours Suriname when table tennis action of the 2016 Goodwill Inter Guiana Games took place yesterday morning at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
Originally scheduled for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the locals were not unduly affected by the switch and proceeded to outclass their opponents on their way to winning both the male and female divisions.
Top player Shemar Britton started the ball rolling for the hosts defeating Adesh Jawhir 11-1, 11-3 11-2 and Elishaba Johnson made it 2-0 in the best of nine matches by beating Jared Soogea 11-7, 11-4, 11-7.
Next up was the boys doubles and Nicholas Romain and Johnson defeated Jawhir and Soogea 11-8, 11-3, 8-11 and 11-9.
In the reverse singles Britton beat Soogea 11-6, 11-4 and 11-7 while Romain wrapped up the tie by beating Kono Abas 11-7, 11-7, 10-12 and 12-10.
In the female encounters, top player Priscilla Greaves defeated Kristl Wijntuin 11-7, 11-4 and 11-3 and Neveah Clarkston beat Sharifa Hooghart 11-6, 11-6, 7-11 and 11-4.
In the girls doubles Salenas Jackman and Anika Phillips beat Hoogart and Wijntuin 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 while Jackman beat Janily Tamrin 11-4, 11-3, 13-11 in the first reverse singles while Greaves beat Hoogart 11-6, 11-5 and 11-2.
President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Godfrey Munroe said yesterday he was pleased with the results.
“In context we were a bit stronger but even though we did not take them lightly. They have a Chinese coach and an active school programme and so we had to cover the basics.
“The performance of the players was excellent and the players were happy to bring the points home. Guyana has a lot of players with potential and the task now is to find avenues for them to realise their potential.”
He added:” I think basically any opportunity that presents itself to give the players exposure is good more particularly with multi-discipline event that mirrors the International games like Commonwealth and CAC (central American and Caribbean).
“It is good to give them a feel of what those games should be like and to help build their confidence and psyche,” he added.
