Three local table tennis stalwarts were yesterday recognized for their achievements in Guyana and the Caribbean by the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF).
The three, all former national champions are Mike Baptiste, Colin France and Trevor Lowe.
Baptiste, who made his debut at the Caribbean Championships in 1965, won the Caribbean mixed doubles title with Denise Osman in 1968.
He is also a five-time national men’s singles champion.
“Mike Baptiste is a player from the `60s and `70s and he also was my coach,” said president of the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Teddy Matthews, a former Guyana national junior champion.
“He continued beyond that as a coach for Guyana and he continued way into the eighties and is a Caribbean champion as well,” added Matthews, who resides in St Lucia where he was also the national senior champion.
Matthews also spoke of France, a three-time national men’s singles champion who represented Guyana at the Caribbean championships during the `70s,`80s and 90s as a player. He later coached several national teams and is still active today having played at the national table tenbnis championships held at the Cliff Anderson Sports hall earlier this year.
“Colin France is a team member of myself during the `70s we won club championships. France is still involved in table tennis in Guyana,” said Matthews.
Lowe, a two-time national champion, like Baptsite is retired but, like France, was a staple on the various national teams and while France thrilled Caribbean spectators with his retrieving ability and strong backhand attacks, Lowe’s forte was his feared forehand loops complemented by excellent footwork which few in the Caribbean could match. If Orvile Haslam brought the loop to prominence in the Caribbean, Lowe mastered it in Guyana.
“In Trevor Lowe’s case we won the men’s doubles title five times,” said Matthews.
“These awards are for people in their own countries and so the CRTTF thought it prudent to reward these three gentlemen for their contribution to Guyana and Caribbean table tennis,” ended Matthews.
