National table tennis player Natalie Cummings yesterday departed Guyana for Brazil where she will undergo a two-month training stint at the Jaceiri Table Tennis Club, Sao Paulo.
While in Brazil Cummings’ internship will allow here to train and play tournaments as a representative of the club in provincial and regional tournaments.
According to a release from the Guyana Table Tennis Association: “Brazil is looking to expand their league and has been offering internship opportunities to foreign national players.”
Cummings prior to her departure told Stabroek Sport that she was a bit excited about the opportunity to train and compete in Brazil.
“I’m a bit excited and feel somewhat privileged to gain acceptance as such opportunities are hard to come by,” she said adding…” I’m hoping to give a good account of myself.
Cummings said she was encouraged by fellow national player Trenace Lowe to source outside training.
Cummings has just completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Guyana and has expressed an interest in pursuing endeavors aimed at realizing her table tennis potential while she contemplates advance studies and work.
Cummings’ stint and stints in China by Lowe and Chelsea Edghill should help the national women’s team better their silver medal performance at last year’s Caribbean championships in St Lucia.
Cummings will be involved in several international engagements this year including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23rd – 3rd August; the Pan American Olympic Festival in Mexico in August; the Central America and Caribbean Games in November and the Pan American trials in El Salvador in September.
Brazil players are highly ranked in the world and recently their 17 old year Hugo Calderon won the Latin American senior men’s Title in March 2014 Dom Republic , he is ranked number 4 in the world at juniors
“The GTTA recognizes that it is only true exposing our players to high level training and competition that we can raise the level of our players and become more competitive internationally. This is the route we must take in order to remain competitive and surpass our international counterparts,” stated the GTTA release.
Cummings said the coach in Sao Paulo has the reputation of being one of the best. She left Guyana at 10am this morning and is expected to reach her destination at around 9pm tonight.
