The selection committee of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has stuck to its guns and omitted three of the country’s top players Idi Lewis, Christopher Franklyn and Godfrey Munroe from the men’s team named to compete at the 54th Senior Caribbean Championships later this month in Santo Domingo.
The men’s team will be led by Nigel Bryan and will include, Paul Meusa, Joel Alleyne and overseas-based player Paul David. Edinho Lewis is the stand-by.
Bryan will also participate in the boys’ U-21 singles. Denzel Hopkinson has been named as the stand-by player in this category.
The women’s team will be spearheaded by national women’s champion Trenace Lowe with support fro Jody Ann Blake, Nathalie Cummings, Chelsea Edghill and Akecia Nedd.
The veteran players named are Colin France, Ray `Copter’ Anderson, Patrick Triumph and Xenophen Goliath.
The team will be managed by Dr Pradeep Balram, who is also chairman of the selection committee of the GTTA.
The championships will be held at the Pabellón de Tenis de Mesa del Parque del Este, Santo Domingo, from August 22 -26 and Dr. Balram said the locally based players will wing out on August 20 and return on August 27.
Bryan, Lewis, Alleyne, Hopkinson, and Lowe are undergoing training at the Lily Yhip Table Tennis Centre in New Jersey, United States of America and Dr. Balram said those players will travel directly to Santo Domingo from the USA.
Selection of team
“The team was selected based on performance. Bryan, Meusa and Alleyne have been 1-2-3 for the last three tournaments, the National Championships in December, the Mashramani tournament in February and the Youth Week tournament in May,” he said.
Concerning the non selection of Munroe, Lewis and Franklyn, Dr Balram said that the three players have not participated in any of the GTTA’s sanctioned tournament.
“The three players, Munroe, Lewis and Franklyn have not enrolled to play in any of the GTTA tournaments nor have they communicated with the GTTA,” said Dr. Balram adding that Jonathan Sankar has been in contact with the GTTA and has informed them that he has not been training.
“They seem to have some problem which nobody seems to want to communicate with the GTTA,” he added.
Asked why David has been selected even though he too has not participated in any tournament run by the GTTA including last year’s National Championships, Dr Balram said David has been in frequent contact with the GTTA.
“Paul David has been communicating with the executive whenever there is a tournament, expressing his willingness but not being able to attend because of the financial constraints,” said Dr Balram.
Medal hopes
According to the GTTA selection committee chairman, they will look to the U-21 and veteran divisions for medals.
Lancaster last year won a gold medal in the women veterans’ category while France won a silver medal after losing to Raul Bettancourt at the tournament held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Dr. Balram said hopes are high on Lowe, who won a silver medal last year and Bryan, who won a bronze in the U-21 singles.
“We have hopes on these two (Eva) Brito might beat her (Lowe). Nigel has a very good chance but we do not know as yet if Juan Vila (Jr.) is still eligible. If he is not then Nigel has a good chance.”
The players will be required to pay their airfare to the championships says Dr. Balram pointing out that a ticket costs US$1100.
“The association policy is that every player must provide their own airfare,” he said adding that the GTTA will look after accommodation and meals.
Concerning the female team, Dr. Balram said efforts were made to have former Caribbean Junior Champion Michelle John, but disclosed that John is studying and will be unable to attend the championships.
Guyana will compete in the men and women’s team events, men and women doubles, mixed doubles boys and girls’ Under-21 singles and men and women veterans 45 and over.
