By this week-end players participating in the annual National Sports Commission Independence anniversary table tennis tournament should be playing with the spanking-new Stag tables.

According to the general secretary of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe, the way has been cleared for the GTTA to pick up the first batch of equipment from Indian manufacturers Stag.

The GTTA had entered in a three-year agreement with the India-based company following negotiations by GTTA vice president Arron Fraser with Stag’s CEO Vivek Kohli while Fraser was manager of the Guyana team at the Latin America Junior Champion-ships in Cartegena, Colombia.

The equipment, which arrived earlier this year, was lying on the wharf awaiting the completion of the necessary documentation  which included getting the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport,  Dr. Frank Anthony to sign the duty free concession.

“By tomorrow (today) we will get the goods cleared,” Munroe told Stabroek Sports

yesterday.

Munroe said the equipment valued at approximately 12,000 US dollars consists of  10 competition tables, 25 training tables,  30 national teams uniforms, 50 dozen three star balls,  some counters, a quantity of table tennis rubber sheets, scoring machines and scoring tables.

“We will be putting the tables into use right away,” Munroe reported.

Meanwhile, Munroe said the GTTA met on Monday and shortlisted squads to prepare for the annual Caribbean championships and the Central American and Caribbean Games both of which will be held in Puerto Rico.

Munroe disclosed that while former Caribbean junior champion Michelle John will miss the Caribbean championships she will be available for the CAC Games.

The GTTA also received word from overseas-based racquet wielders Paul David and Sydney Christophe.

While David will be available for both games the general secretary reported that Christophe, the former Caribbean men’s singles champion was “unsure” about his participation.

Some of the women’s players shortlisted are Trenace Lowe, Jody Ann Blake, Natalie Cummings, Adielle Rosheuvel and Chelsea Edghill.

Last year’s Caribbean men’s singles bronze medallist Idi Lewis will spearhead the men’s squad which should include

Christopher `Corleone’  Franklyn and David.

Munroe said there are also some issues with this year’s Caribbean championships as the host country failed to put the U-21 categories (boys and girls) on the prospectus as is mandated by the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CTTF).

Munroe said the hosts have also changed the veterans’ category from over  45 to  over 35.

“They have an over 35 category which means that you might find most of the top players might still be playing.”

Munroe said the GTTA plans to raise those issues with the host country prior to the 52ndCaribbean championships which runs from July 4-10 in San German, Puerto Rico at the Interamerican University Student Centre.

The Puerto Rico Table Tennis Association will provide accommodation and meals at a rate of US$30 per person.