The Guyana table tennis community has reacted in shock, sadness and disbelief to the sudden untimely passing of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest table tennis players, Dexter St Louis, who passed away last Thursday in Bordeaux, France where he lived for over two decades.
Record holder for the most national men’s singles titles, Sydney Christophe, who is based in the United States of America (USA) said he was saddened to learn of St Louis’s untimely passing.
He was just 51.
“First of all I would like to extend sincere condolences to the family of the late Dexter St. Louis,” said Christophe, who like St Louis is a southpaw and a former Caribbean men’s singles champion.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of his sudden passing in France,” Christophe told Stabroek Sport, adding…”Dexter will be remember for his strong fighting spirit. “Only last year, St Louis, who has had several run ins with the Trinidad and Tobago Table tennis Federation over the years, sought the intervention of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee after he was bypassed for selection on the team for the CAC games in Colombia.
“His courage and determination was exemplified over the years in the many battles he fought on and off the table, which allowed his country, opponents and teammates to label him among the greatest table tennis players ever in the Caribbean, “said Christophe.
“To me he will fondly be remembered as a friend who was willing to share much that he knew about the sport. Rest in Peace Dexter.
“May the pleasant memories he gave us all comfort the lives of his relatives during this difficult time.
Another southpaw and former Caribbean junior boys champion Idi Lewis said he too was shocked to hear of St Louis’ passing.
“I’m extremely saddened and shocked to hear of his passing. He was definitely someone that I was inspired by seeing we both came up under similar conditions and he was able to make it to the highest stages of table tennis. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family especially his daughter Rheann who I’ve shared a close friendship with over the years,” said Lewis.
Andrew Daly, former national player and currently the senior vice-president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association said it was sad to hear of the passing of the table tennis stalwart.
“It is indeed sad to hear of the passing of a Caribbean stalwart. He’ll surely be missed by the Caribbean table tennis fraternity.
“As senior vice president of the Guyana Table tennis Association, I would like to express the sympathy of the GTTA and my own family. May his soul rest in peace,” said Daly.
To fans of table tennis St Louis was no stranger, but a likeable, loveable individual. And though he might have won most of his battles against Guyanese table tennis players following his sojourn in France, two defeats, by Godfrey-Perry Leacock and Matthew Khan, probably rankled the most. He had burst upon the table tennis scene at the 1983 Caribbean championships held in Guyana at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and was part of a young brigade of players such as Ludlow ` The Admiral’ Bailey, Sharon Becca, daughter of the late Jamaica Gleaner Sports Editor, Tony Becca and Julie Armstrong.
Going from strength to strength, he was one of the favourites to win the 1989 men’s singles title at the championships held in Curacao, but was eliminated easily by Cuba’s Raoul Bettancourt, who neutralized St Louis’ much vaunted power loops by playing the ball close to the net.
“The table will be this small tomorrow,” Bettancourt had predicted on the eve of his match against St Louis.
Upset by the defeat St Louis took up residence in France and from there his career took off even though he was only playing semi-professionally at the time.
At the 19996 Olympic games in Atlanta, Georgia USA, St Louis, Michael Hyatt and Keith Evans of Jamaica were the Caribbean representatives.
St Louis placed fourth in his group losing to Sweden’s Jorgen Persson, Brazil’s Hugo Hoyama and Kim Song Hui of North Korea.
He was to qualify for yet another Olympic Games in sensational fashion winning four straight points to eliminate Marcos Madrid of Mexico in a seven-game thriller at the qualifiers in the Dominican Republic in April of 2008 and book his ticket to Beijing.
St Louis was to win the last of his five Caribbean men’s singles title in 2013 at the 55th annual championships in St Lucia and following his triumph he promptly ripped off his shirt.
He later told Stabroek Sports that the win was his most satisfying simply because there was a campaign waged against himself and his stepdaughter Rheann Chung to stop them from playing.
“There were emails left, right and centre to sort of stop me from playing because I live in France and they probably had to spend US$2500 for me and Rheann plane tickets,” he explained.
Dexter St Louis, a colossus in table tennis regionally, is no more. Let’s hope that he finds peace wherever he is at and that there are no more battles to be waged in the interest of fair play and team selection.
Rest in Peace Dexter! You will be greatly missed.
