Table Tennis Review: Sport moving forward

Jan 07, 2011 Sports

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By Edison Jefford
The last year, 2010, began with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) outlining its Plans and Objectives for the year even though the serving administration knew that it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections were imminent within months.
Plans and Objectives included: to increase the number of players by 50 percent; to improve the competitive structures for players at all levels and host more tournaments; improve training frequency technically and tactically for national players; to train a nucleus of students to write the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Physical Education and Sports Exam; to create an integrated Coaching Programme that incorporates the coaches’ education and players’ development; to indentify players for future training and teach them the most recent table tennis techniques; to train administrators and officials to enhance the administration of the sport; to decentralise the sport; to educate persons on the basic and advance areas of table tennis and to improve administrative structures.
Table Tennis in Guyana has improved and currently has more persons playing at all levels owed to an aggressive Popularisation Programme that included consistent tournaments that definitely raised the profile and image of the sport.
An increase in tournaments and a positive coaching and developmental foundation along a path of sustainable progress was the primary vision of the GTTA last year. Efforts to expand and give exposure to more players internationally also succeed.
The association’s ‘Tables for School’s Development Programme’ with the reception of the Stag table tennis equipment grant and a subsequent collaboration with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and Ministry of Education was also implemented.
Decentralisation of the association’s programmes with functional committees set up in Linden, Berbice, Essequibo, Bartica, Corriverton and subsequent hosting of tournaments in these areas, marked another major achievement for the sport.
Those initiatives had seen an unearthing of loads of talent, underscoring the potential for table tennis nationally and established the association’s view that the cradle and thrust for expansion and development rest within the communities and schools.
The GTTA Elections brought an invigoration to the sport with the ascension of Henry Greene to the presidency and a vibrant Executive that filled many administrative gaps the association had, and triggered an unprecedented renaissance in the sport.
The association’s AGM was held in July and the Executives were elected to serve from 2010 to 2012. Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene was elected unanimously as President while other members elected included, Harold Hopkinson, Senior Vice-President, Dr. Pradeep Balram, Vice-President, Godfrey Munroe, General Secretary, Robin Hunte, Treasurer with Linden Johnson and Deidre Edghill supporting as Assistant Secretaries.
Successes Highlighted
Categorically highlighting the successes of the GTTA last year leads to: decentralisation efforts enhanced; players exposed; personnel trained; domestic competition increased; improved reward and remuneration for players; the Strategic Plan; the launch of the table tennis for schools project and the marketing of the sport through creative methods.
Continuing to categorically highlight those successes reveals the establishment of Government and Corporate relationships for support of future plans and initiatives; strengthening of linkages with regional and international counterparts; plans for the building of an independent facility for table tennis; fostering partnerships with China, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Stag; identification of players to benefit from high performance training in China.
Training
The Cliff Andersen Sports Hall remained the central centre for practice sessions for players with the Mackenzie Sports Club in Linden and Malteenoes Sports Club being the other major clubs on the GTTA radar that are up and running. The newly formed clubs in Berbice, Essequibo, Bartica, Corriverton and schools were merely at an implantation phase.
Eighteen participants were certified as Level I table tennis umpires after completing a two-day workshop seminar in January last year at the Malteenoes Sports Club. Morton Blake, Linden Johnson and Godfrey Munroe conducted those sessions.
Competitions
The Oscar Shew’s Memorial Table Tennis Tournament commenced on Saturday February 27 last year and concluded the following day. The Award Ceremony was held the same night after the final matches. The Tournament had more than 100 participants from nine categories. Players came from schools in Linden, Berbice, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara.
The National Sports Commission Annual Independence Table Tennis Tournament, which started on Friday June 4, concluded on Monday June 14. The Independence Tournament had more than 190 participants from 21 categories. Players were from schools and clubs.
The Guyana Police Force sponsored a Veterans’ Championships in June where the winners were handsomely rewarded, compliments of the Commissioner of Police. It was Greene’s introduction to the leadership of the GTTA in a strategic effort based on interest.
In July, the GTTA received the Stag equipment from India, which heavily supported the game’s development.  The shipment included 10 competition tables, 10 nets and post sets, 120 surrounds, 50 dozen  training balls, 10 score cards, 10 score card tables, 30 sets of clothing and 20 towel boxes from Stag International India under the ITTF Stag equipment grant.
GTTA also received 25 Stag training tables that the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport funded for schools’ distribution. The association in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Education launched the National Schools’ Table Tennis programme with the distribution of 22 table tennis tables to various schools across Guyana.
The Bishops High School was adjudged the ‘Champion School’ in the Digicel National Schools’ Table Tennis Tournament.  Corriverton hosted a School’s Table Tennis Tournament, which was an open singles competition for school children under-18 years.
In Linden, the Linden Schools Championships saw Mackenzie High School emerging Champion team while the Essequibo Schools’ Table Tennis Championships continued the Decentralisation Programme of the GTTA within the schools’ system.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry sponsored an Inter-Organisation Team’s Table Tennis Tournament at the National Gymnasium on November 13-14 last year. Kashif and Shanghai won the competition, Guyana Fire Service was second and Police Officers’ Mess and NP Electronics finished joint third in the heated inaugural contest.
Guyana and Suriname Table Tennis Associations mulled an International Goodwill series, but it did not happen the time the associations wanted it to occur. However, the GTTA President made it clear that the union between the two countries is long-term.
The GTTA assisted Suriname with attaining a donation of 10 competition tables to reactivate the programmes necessary for their resuscitation. The relationship is expected to yield benefits such as training; exchange programmes and an ultimate goal of having table tennis played at the Inter-Guiana Games.
The association also ensured that the National Championships return under Banks DIH funding with the Vita Malt brand. The Pre-Cadets, Cadets, Juniors, Seniors and Masters Championships had over 200 matches and 400 games played with more than 200 players.
Players came from schools, clubs, Linden, Berbice, Essequibo, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Demerara, Bartica as well as United States of America. The event was held the first two weekends in December at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Apart from connecting the sport with the corporate community, table tennis attracted luminaries at most of its events last year, a trend that continued at the National Championships. Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Labour Minister, Manzoor Nadir, Managing Director of BK International, Brian Tiwarie, North American Resources Inc. Managing Director, Dean Hassan, Banks Beer Manager (Banks DIH), Brian Choo Hen, Trophy Stall’s representative, Falicia Camacho, Dr. Roger D. Morton among others were all present at the National Championships Closing and Award Ceremonies.
International Competition
Fifth Pre-Cadet (10 years & under and 13 years & under) Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in Puerto Rico March 27-April 2: Jamaal Duff gained a silver medal in the Boys 13 years and Under Division and Chelsea Edghill won gold in the Girls 13 years and Under Division.
Fifth Cadet (15 years and under) and 15th Junior (18 years and under) Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in Puerto Rico April 2–8, Utuado, Puerto Rico: the junior Boys and Girls 18 years and Under teams won bronze medals.
Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico:  the National Men and Women’s teams participated in this prestigious competition and were the only English-speaking team to advance to the quarterfinal round of the competition.
Youth Olympic Games in Singapore: Adielle Rosheuvel participated in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.
Commonwealth Games in India: the National Men’s team performed creditably, reaching the quarterfinals and finishing 11th overall with victories over Vanatu, Sri Lanka and Dominica.
The Pan American Pan American Mini-Cadet Championships in the Dominican Republic: Chelsea Edghill and Jamaal Duff representing Guyana, losing in the round of 16 after getting through in the qualifying round of the competition.

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