National table tennis coach Linden Johnson is confident that the players set to participate at the third South American Youth Games in Argentina will give a good account of themselves.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport prior to the team’s departure Monday, Johnson said that the players trained twice a day in an effort to get themselves ready for the competition.
Apart from Johnson and another local coach Idi Lewis, the players were also under the watchful eyes of Cuban coach Osdani Romero Garcia who is on his second stint here.
Table tennis has always been a part of the South American Youth games and Guyana has always been represented said Johnson who pointed out that Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill were Guyana’s representatives at the inaugural games in Lima, Peru in 2013 while Miguel Wong and Nicholas Romain were the representatives at the second edition of the championships in Santiago, Chile in 2017.
This year’s team is Jonathan Van Lange, Krystian Sahadeo, Jasmine Billingy and Thuraia Thomas.
The table tennis players will swing into action from Friday.
Johnson says this year’s format is a little different as there will be no separate boys and girls team events. Rather, Johnson said there will be a combined team event featuring boys and girls’ singles, a mixed doubles encounter and the reverse singles. A tie will be won by the first team to score three victories.
“The team stands a good chance of doing well at the championships, “said Johnson adding, “The players just have to remain focused and apply themselves.”
Johnson said the intensity of the training had picked up over the last few days prior to the team’s departure.
“Some of the players had technical faults which we tried to correct but you know that won’t happen overnight,” said Johnson.
The long-serving coach, who is also the General Secretary of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), said he has high hopes for top player Van Lange despite the fact that the youngster has CXC examinations upcoming.
“Van Lange is a senior player having represented the Guyana senior men’s team at this year’s Caribbean table tennis championships in Cuba,” said Johnson.
He also spoke of the other players.
“Sahadeo is a promising youngster but he needs to sharpen up his game in a few areas while Thomas is one of the better young female players around. This tour could be good for her development,” he added.
The baby of the team is jasmine Billingy, who Johnson described as a young and promising player.
“She has a far way to go,” says Johnson, adding ..”She’s a disciplined girl.”
Apart from table tennis, Guyana will also compete at badminton, boxing, swimming and 3×3 basketball.
