Latest update June 13th, 2026 12:40 AM
Dynamic year continues for local table tennis
– GTTA launches Digicel schools’ tournament
By Edison Jefford
Telecommunications giants, Digicel and the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) officially launched the 2011 Digicel Schools’ Table Tennis Championships yesterday with President of the GTTA, Henry Greene committing to the proliferation of the sport in schools.
The schools’ tournament will be held this weekend at the Queens College Auditorium. The same venue which hosted the just-concluded Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Inter-Organisation Table Tennis Tournament with the absence of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the National Gymnasium owed to renovations.
GTTA President and Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene accepts Digicel’s sponsorship of the Schools Table Tennis Championships from Public Relations Manager, Shonnet Moore with other officials savouring the moment yesterday.
Greene, who is also the Commissioner of Police, said that one of the best features of the 2011 tournament is that it has gone nationwide with several schools expected to compete, namely from Linden, Bartica and New Amsterdam in a definite growth from last year.
“What is great about this tournament is that we are attracting a wider participation throughout the country. We are doing these things to help students be more productive. We recognise that sports can help them in that regard,” Greene told the media yesterday.
He said that getting the tournament into the schools is part of the GTTA Strategic Plan, and their training of coaches and procurement of the equipment is to continue to facilitate the fundamental development of youth players with specific emphasis on schools.
“We are expecting another shipment of equipment from Stag (India-based table tennis equipment company) very soon. We intend to continue to use some of the equipment in schools as was done before,” he said, adding that the goal is to provide players with a proper base.
The GTTA has already benefited from a first shipment of equipment from Stag as part of a three-year sponsorship deal. Tables and other equipment from the first shipment were sent to identified schools to help them continue their table tennis programmes.
“We will test the skills of students in table tennis and this year we went a bit further than the secondary schools to engaging the primary schools,” Greene continued. The tournament will be attracting 30 plus schools with over 300 players in different categories.
The GTTA President and Commissioner of Police singled out commendation for Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Dean and Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope for keeping table tennis in schools on their radar for corporate support.
Public Relations Manager at Digicel, Shonnet Moore noted that the company was proud to be in the vanguard of support for sports in schools, more specifically, table tennis. She said that sports ought to be among the co-curriculum activities for students. “We are extremely proud of the achievements of this tournament. This is one of the forums that the association uses to identify talented young athletes. I want to thank you on behalf of Digicel for giving us the opportunity to be associated with this event,” she said.
General Secretary of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe reminded those present that without corporate support it is impossible for associations to implement their programmes.
He said that the GTTA will ensure that the management of the tournament is excellent.
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