The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will host the Caribbean Junior and Cadet table tennis Championships from April 14-19 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue Georgetown and that competition will be used as the qualification event for the second Pan American Junior and cadet table tennis Championships to be held in the United States of America in September.
The top four teams from the Caribbean will join the top four teams from Central and South America to compete at the Pan Am event.
“The GTTA will be gauging the players’ progress over the coming months to arrive at the best possible team to compete at the championships,” stated a release from the association.
According to the GTTA release, in an effort to enhance the training of the junior and cadet players, the GTTA will have the senior players train with members of the junior team in an effort to reinforce the fundamentals of the players and increase their technical and tactical awareness.
According to the GTTA all the top countries in the region are expected to descend on Georgetown since the qualification event is compulsory.
The Caribbean tournament will provide opportunities for 32 of Guyana’s top junior athletes to compete against the region’s best for regional honours.
Last year the Guyana junior boys team secured silver medal in a three-way tie between host and eventual winners the Dominican Republic whom Guyana defeated by a 3-2 margin in Trinidad and Tobago.
This year the locals will look to use the home advantage to go one better and win the regional tournament which will qualify them for the prestigious Junior Pan American Championships.
The junior boys team boasts a formidable line up with the likes of Miguel Wong, Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Sheldon Atherley, Nicholas Romain, Tyriq Saunders, Jamaal Nicholas, Terrence Rausche, Yeudister Persuad, Kaysan Ninvalle, Brandon Jaikarran, Navindra Persaud, Jeremey Singh Isaiah Layne, Nryron Bissu, Khalil Ninvalle, Jonathan Van Lange and Ty Dixon.
Priscilla Greaves is expected to lead the female challenge, with support from Neveah Clarkston, Selenas Jackman, Abigale Martin, Onieka Philips, Davona Bess, Thuraia Thomas and Kristie Lopes.
The categories to be contested are boys singles and doubles, girls singles and doubles and the mixed doubles events.
