National table tennis player, Miguel Wong, is set to take up a month’s training in Germany courtesy of a US$8000 investment from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).
This was revealed by GOA boss, K.A. Juman-Yassin during a media briefing yesterday at the GOA’s headquarters, Liliendaal.
Wong, who departed last night, will be in his second stint training in Germany where he will be enrolled into the Topspin Table Tennis Centre.
He is scheduled to participate at the Senior Pan American Championship in Peru from November 13-19 before heading to the inaugural Junior Pan American Games in Columbia which starts on November 25.
“I sincerely hope that this next training session he will have in Germany will be able to improve his game and so when he goes to Cali (Colombia) he will be a different player,” Yassin said.
He continued, “As time goes on his competency and confidence will indeed increase and I want to wish him all the best.”
Wong has been training locally with Coach Idi Lewis as well as Godfrey Munroe, GTTA president.
Munroe said Wong’s training has been coming along well and he has seen progress adding that he expects him to do well in the upcoming competitions.
Wong explained that he has set himself a target of making the final eight, citing the calibre of players that usually take part in tournaments like these.
“I’ve set a realistic goal, the last eight, realistically speaking because these games will have the best, fulltime funded, fulltime players who play professionally in Europe and Asia and they play constantly so if to make to quarter finals at least it will be a very big achievement and will boost my career in terms of where I want to be in the next three years [or] four years,” Wong said.
Munroe said that Wong will stay an additional six days after the Peru-based competition before the Columbia-based tournament village is opened.
The GOA’s funding covers Wong’s housing, airfare, transportation, therapy and meals. Wong has earned qualification into the tournament due to his world ranking.
Wong also received financial support from Ramdeo Kumar and Kings Jewelry while Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir aided Wong in receiving his visa.
Yassin complimented the efforts of corporate Guyana for their renewed investment in sports and called for athletes to be accountable to their sponsors.
“Because our athletes are now improving their quality and standard, I am happy to see sponsors from the business community are coming forward and assisting, excellent but there must be accountability from athletes who receive funding from the sponsors,” Yassin said.
Wong stated at least six athletes from the training centre will be heading over to the two competitions and will be looking to learn as much as possible.
The 21-year-old noted that his previous stint in the European nation had given him the necessary know how to function.
