Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
GTTA officials visit Linden to assist in the resuscitation of Linden Association
From right Patrick Triumph- Dr Balram- Harold Hopkinson and Lethem Wilson
Senior vice president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Harold Hopkinson along with junior vice president Dr. Pradeep Balram and Public Relations officer Patrick Triumph were in Linden Thursday, where they met with members of the Linden Steering Committee on the way forward for the resuscitation of the Linden Table Tennis Association (LTTA).
The meeting, which was held at the Linmine Constabulary Hall, saw also children from the Mackenzie High School and the Linden Technical Institute attending where the GTTA outlined its plans for table tennis across Guyana.
A Steering Committee, headed by Mr. Lethem Wilson and comprising Mr. Robert Langevine, Mr. Joe Chapman and Mrs. Judy Gravesande–Noel along with table tennis coaches- Messrs Raynor ‘Copter’ Anderson and Howard James, is now tasked with the full responsibility to resuscitate the game.
The senior vice president, Hopkinson, told the gathering that the current GTTA executive took over in August last year and the intention is to decentralize table tennis throughout Guyana. He said that the resuscitation of the Linden association was essential and it is a mandate from the president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association, Police Commissioner Henry Green.
Dr Balram noted the GTTA president has been very active in pushing the promotion of the sport while, a view supported by Triumph, who added that the association was looking to have table tennis tables at all schools in Guyana
Chairman of the Steering Committee at Linden, Mr. Lethem Wilson, was happy with the urgings of the GTTA officials saying the intentions were good for the sport and promised to get things moving forward.
It was announced also that soon there will be, in the month of April, another ITTF Level One Coaching clinic for which Linden intends to send more coaches to be certified.
Chapman spoke of the invaluable contribution given to the sport by the late table tennis coach and pioneer of the LTTA in the 1970s Milton George. The GTTA delegation acknowledged that George’s contribution should not go unnoticed and promised some recognition for George’s unselfish service to the game’s development will be given.
Table Tennis coach Anderson spoke of the plans for coaching particularly in the schools across Linden in the first instance and in other areas in Region 10 Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani.
The GTTA acknowledged that there was need to assist Linden which had produced several quality players in the past including two former junior national champions in Horace Benjamin and Marlon Washington, who went on to represent Guyana at the senior level. Others who were able to wear national colours were Kay Blair, Auric Tappin and Gary Stephens while making a name for themselves over the years were Kenneth ‘Gummy’ John, Lennox Stephens, Kevin Stephens and Steven Barrow.
Three tables are already in the mining town to be distributed to locations on the east and west bank areas of Linden and they were made possible compliments of businessmen Dunstan Barrow and Beresford Harry and Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine.
A fourth table tennis table is expected shortly and the locations for these tables are the Supervisors’ Club, Linmine Constabulary Hall, Beresford Youth Club and the Linden Technical Institute.
Chief Security Officer of the Linmine Constabulary Superintendent Leslie Nedd thanked the GTTA officials for visiting Linden as part of their outreach, while the donors came in for special mention as he also acknowledged the presence of the school children and the members of the steering committee chaired by Lethem Wilson, which is tasked with the resuscitation of the sport in the Mining Town.
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