Latest update March 28th, 2025 6:05 AM
Latest News
- “It will be a very bad day for Venezuelan if they attack Guyana or ExxonMobil”—Rubio declares
- Guyana gets info on U.S. tax evasion allegations against Mohameds, Mae Thomas
- US$35 injected into banking system to address foreign currency shortage—VP Jagdeo
- Citizens to stage protest today against lack of access to information in Guyana
- Guyana vows to stand with U.S.
Clarkston, Jackman and Martin can be world class players – coach France
Says hard work paid off
By Zaheer Mohamed
It is said that success comes after hard work and according to International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) certified level one coach, 57 year old Guyanese Colin France; this is exactly the case with Guyana’s U-11 table tennis stars Nevaeh Clarkston, Salinas Jackman and Abigail Martin.
These players performed creditably in the just concluded Caribbean Regional pre-Cadet table tennis championships which were held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, sweeping the Girls U-11 category. Clarkston took gold in the singles segment while Jackman grabbed silver and Martin bronze. Clarkston and Jackman won the doubles, while the trio gave Guyana gold in the team category.
France a former national three times champion, who also copped silver in the 2011 and 2012 veterans division of the Caribbean senior championship, told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that he started to coach
From left Salinas Jackman, Abigail Martin and Nevaeh Clarkson
these players at a very young age and is happy to see their hard work paid off. France said that he did some extra work with them leading up to the tournament that these players can gain recognition worldwide as long as they continue to take the game seriously. “These players have the ability to excel in the sport, but would need sponsorship. I looked at a number of videos of U-11 players from different countries and I am convinced that my students (Clarkston, Jackman and Martin) can do well on the world stage, their skill level is pretty much up there”, added France.
France stated that is satisfied with the players’ performance and was confident they would have done well. He said Clarkston and Martin have another chance at the U-11 category while Jackman now moves to the U-13 level.
France pointed out that he came into contact with Clarkston and Jackman in 2010 while delivering lunch at the Thomas Moore Primary school for the Daisy St. Hill Foundation and met Martin at the Church of Christ in Hadfield Street a year later. “I introduced them to the sport at a very young age; Clarkston was 6, Jackman 7 and Martin 8. I started to coach them at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) with the consent of their parents before moving to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The main reason why I started to train them so young was because they would be experienced enough to do what they did,” he said.
France informed that he was assisted by the Daisy St. Hill Foundation and a number of other citizens to supply the players’ equipment and being their coach he is also paying a special interest in their academics because they both go hand in hand. He calls on parents to support their children in sports and thanked all those who assisted these players.
In an invited comment Clarkston said that she is happy to represent her country with flying colours and was confident that she would have done well while Martin stated that she trained hard for the competition and enjoyed it. Both players thanked Coach France for his backing.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The PPP has started the intimidation
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- In politics, as in life, what goes around comes around. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic... more
The Caribbean: Destined to Grin and Bear the Consequences of Its Self-Created Vulnerabilities?
By Sir Ronald Sanders For decades, many Caribbean nations have grappled with dependence on a small number of powerful countries... more
Weekend Cartoon
