Sukhoo, Richard, Andrews, Butts outstanding in Berbice TT competition

Nov 19, 2014 Sports

The third annual competition organised by the Berbice Table Tennis Association (BTTA)

U-18 winner Kristoff Sukhoo and the winners pose with the donor Mr. Ramdyal and the organisers.

for school children and C class players from the New Amsterdam/Canje areas, sponsored by overseas based Guyanese and Berbician, Souvenir Ramdyal of Queen’s New York was successfully held on Saturday last at the Berbice High School.
The day’s action which saw over 40 players participating ranging from 10 years to 60 years old produced intense competition in each division resulting in a number of upsets while new players emerged.
Last year’s Under-18 champion Kristoff Sukhoo successfully defended his title. In the C Class category, veteran Brentnol Richards showed that age is not a factor as he made light work of all his opponents to take that crown.
Sukhoo, who is City based defeated Steven Sankar (3 games to 1) winning 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 in the final. Sukhoo had earlier defeated Briton Murray by a similar margin; 14-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7.
En-route to the final Sankar defeated Nicholas Lawrence 3-1; 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8. Murray and Lawrence were awarded joint third. The U-18 players were placed in four groups with Sukhoo and Joshua Butts emerging from Group A, Murray and Jadon Conway from Group B, Sankar and Jamaal Butts from group C and Lawrence and Joshua Lalbachan from group D.
In the 15 & Under division, Joshua Butts and Jadon Conway continued their keen rivalry with Butts emerging victorious this time, two games to 1 Conway; 11-9, 3-11, 13-11. Levi Nedd Junior placed third.
John Andrews continued his progression from last year by winning both the Under-11 and 13 categories. No competition took place on the distaff side. In the presentation ceremony that followed, the top three players in each division received cash incentives, trophies and in some instances, medals.
Special prizes were presented to the most outstanding player – John Andrews while the most disciplined player was Levi Nedd Jnr. A number of table tennis gear including rackets, ball, rubbers and other apparel were presented to several players as a form of encouragement for them to continue playing the game.
Sponsor, former Berbice player Souvenir Ramdyal expressed pleasure in being able to give back to his home country. He congratulated the players and had special words of commendation for the winners and outstanding performers. He said he was pleased with the standard of play stating that they will be concentrating on the youth and schools from now on while promising to include all the schools in Berbice next time.
Ramdyal lauded the BTTA for a job well done and also thanked former Berbice players Patrick Narine and Lanny Anthony now overseas based who also assisted with sponsorship.
BTTA President, Mr. Floyd Conway was very thankful for the interest shown by Mr. Ramdyal and expressed the hope that more overseas based Guyanese can remember their homeland in some way or the other. He also stated that if things go well there could be another tournament for the Republic celebration.
The tournament was coordinated by Conway with assistance from nine-time national woman champion Desiree Lancaster, Alton Holder Straker and a number of other table tennis enthusiasts.