The Minster of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Anil Nandlall were both absent from the opening ceremony of the 2008 National Table Tennis Championships on Thursday because they were engaged in parliament.
Dr. Anthony was programmed to deliver the feature address while Nandalall was also scheduled to speak at the opening of the tournament which was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the GTTA and the National Sports Commission.
Director of Sports Neil Kumar, however, declared the tournament open in the absence of the two key speakers.
Kumar briefly commended the association for re-introducing this prestigious tournament in the table tennis calendar of events before he departed.
Kumar and Steve Ninvalle participated in the ceremonial first serve of this major tournament which has already registered some 300 participants.
Kumar specifically charged the players to play their best table tennis as they will be adequately rewarded at a well-planned closing ceremony.
Vice-President of the GTTA Arun Fraser, in the feature address, commented on the large number of junior players who were present at the gathering and stated that it was a good sign since the future of the sport lies in their hands.
Also in attendance was secretary of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe, who is also set to compete in this tournament.
Munroe stressed the importance of this tournament in developing the skills, competitiveness and sportsmanship of all the participants.
Munroe said that table tennis is important in developing qualities in the individual that would also prepare them for the challenges they will encounter later in life.
The national championships will continue today with matches in the junior categories, including the girls and boys’ under-13 and under-15 and the anticipated under-18 as well as boys and girls’ doubles and the junior mixed doubles.
