“I think they underperformed”

Apr 21, 2009 Sports

– says GTTA Vice-President, Fraser

Arun Fraser

The national cadet and junior table tennis team that recently participated in the Caribbean Championships in Saint Kitts should fully return to Guyana today but not as confident as when they captured the coveted overall title last year.
In fact, Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Vice–President, Arun Fraser told this newspaper yesterday that the team should have gotten a few more medals despite the presence of a few debutants on the regional tour.
Asked if he was satisfied with Guyana’s third place finish overall with seven medals that were without a solitary gold, Fraser swiftly responded that he was “not really (satisfied); Trenace (Lowe) should have won the under–18 girls”.
Apart from Lowe, who finished with two bronze medals in the girls’ doubles with Varsha Panday and singles competition, Fraser believes that Denzil Hopkinson and Nigel Bryan could have done better in the individual competition.
The latter boys’ duo grabbed bronze in the under–18 doubles event but did not get on the singles podium after reaching the round of sixteen. Guyana’s two silver medals came in the girls’ under–15 doubles and boys’ team categories.
“I think they underperformed. Overall it was an average performance. It was nothing too spectacular. One of the handicaps was that Ambrose (Thomas) was not able to go to take some of the load off of Trenace,” Fraser indicated.
“(Denzel) Duff tried but we needed more of the debutants to perform.
Varsha, I believe, did well even though she did not get the kind of preparation before she left.
Hopkinson and Bryan could have done better,” he continued.
The table tennis association had sent a 15–member team to the championships with three coaches and two managers. However, the defending champions returns third behind the Puerto Rican and Jamaican teams respectively.
Fraser informed that a press conference with the returning team is likely later this week after speaking with General Secretary, Godfrey Munroe yesterday.
Part of the team returned yesterday as others are expected today.
(Edison Jefford)

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