Latest update February 9th, 2025 1:59 PM
Latest News
- Gunmen rob money changer at America Street
- Couple dies in fire at Hydronie, EBE
- “Oil-rich Guyana is worse off from the very start”- Glenn Lall
- Terrence Campbell to remain member of oil money Investment Committee despite transparency concerns in use of revenues
- Trump freezes aid to South Africa amid spat over land expropriation law
Anthony urges GTTA to set ambitious goals
-Saunders upsets Singh in ‘money’ playoffs
By Edison Jefford
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony has urged the Guyana
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony (left) and President of Guyana’s Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene engage in a friendly game to officially serve off the National Table Tennis Championships yesterday.
Table Tennis Association (GTTA) to continue setting ambitious goals when he spoke at the official opening of the 2011 National Championships yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
“We in the ministry are very pleased with the work the association has been doing. I like to set ambitious goals, so I want to encourage the association to set ambitious goals so that we may get much more training (programmes) and competitions,” Anthony said.
The minister indicated that he will continue to work closely with the association to ensure that all its goals are realised. He said that one of the major collaborative goals for the association and the ministry is the establishment of an independent table tennis facility.
“The prospects of table tennis are growing. I am delighted to see so many of you young people in the Sports Hall here today. Sports are more than just playing games. The values derived from the sport must be treated as good values. Many people who participate in sports go on to do well academically,” Anthony told the young table tennis players.
The National Championships commenced with the junior categories Friday night and continued yesterday. It is expected that the category will conclude today to make way for the seniors, who will be clashing this coming weekend at the National Gymnasium.
Before Anthony’s remarks, GTTA President, Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, reiterated his belief that the sport is rapidly developing with the obvious interest of young players. He said that the sport certainly have a bright future with such enthusiasm.
“The thrust of the game lies in youth-in those of you who have the desire to participate. We want to continue to encourage you to participate and on this occasion, the stakes are very high, higher than last year,” Greene encouraged, adding that the sport’s support base has been firm.
He thanked Anthony for continuing to support table tennis, stating that his “presence” and his “involvement” is good for the growth of the sport. He also thanked major sponsors Banks DIH, who is sponsoring the tournament under its Powerade brand.
According to Greene, the categories are expected to be exciting with the tournament acting as the “seminal” competition for national selection. “We are encouraging everyone to participate, we’re using this tournament to select persons for the Dominican Republic,” he said.
The 2012 Caribbean Table Tennis Championships will be hosted in the Dominican Republic and Greene informed that priority consideration for selection will be given to those who compete in the National Championships.
“I want to urge you to put your best foot forward and in this case put your best hand forward in the tournament. National selection will be based on your performance and nothing else. We hope you have a good competition,” the GTTA head said in closing.
General Secretary of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe, stated that the event is definitely the ultimate platform for the best players in the country. As such, Munroe believes that players ought to be in reverence of the opportunity to be named the best player in Guyana.
Following the formal speeches, all attention was turned to the competition where the Under-13 boys reached the Final Four in their category and Jamaali Homer dominated hr group in a round-robin final to snatch the U-13 national title. Homer defeated Priscilla Greaves in what was a final to win the title.
Meanwhile, Tyriq Saunders turned the tables on U-10 title winner Friday night, Jeremy Singh in a playoff among the best five players in the category for a whopping $75,000. Saunders won 3-2 in the best-of-five final. Singh have defeated him the night before.
The competition continues today with the U-13 boys semi-final and final and the U-15 boys and girls’ competition. Kyle Edghill plays Scott Garraway in one of the semis while Shemar Britton competes against Elishaba Johnson in the other semi-final in the U-13 boys group.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
You cannot borrow your way to prosperity
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-The Jagdeo Doctrine is an absurd, reckless, and fundamentally shortsighted economic fallacy.... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
