Five-time Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Open champion, Anthony Downes is hungry for another title.
Downes will defend his title in this year’s competition which has been dubbed the GBTI Independence Jubilee Open tournament and has sent a warning to his opponents that he will be coming aggressively after his opponents, as he seeks his 6th title this year.
The Kopinang Region 8 player pointed out that he has his eyes set on returning to the big scene thus he will be competing internationally from the New Year.
“I have been training for several months now so this title is critically important in being ready for the big circuit,” he said. He disclosed that the GBTI Open competition is the biggest competition that players look forward to every year and his intentions is to make light work of all the players. I am very confident as I have been training mornings and evenings for several months. When a competition is finished, I begin immediately to prepare for the defense of that title right away as this is one of the most competitive sport,” he said.
Since the reemergence of the competition in 2010, Downes has won the title five times.
President of the GLTA Jamal Goodluck said that he expects a very competitive competition noting that it affords the country’s best players to match skills against each other.
“This is an eagerly anticipated competition that everyone looks forward to and I can tell you that this is an eagerly anticipated competition as every player is coming out very confident to win their respective category,” he said.
Downes pointed out that he will be moving shortly to some of the South American countries with the aim of gaining exposure and stiffer competition. This, he said will enhance his ability to be a better player. He said that he was confident that once he gets on the international scene that he will do very well.
“I am ready to roar and this competition will be used in preparation of me making it on the international scene. As such, I will be going really hard against the local players has my aim is to win, win, win,” he noted.
Downes expressed the view that he hopes other youths from his native village of Kopinang will follow in his footsteps of making tennis a competitive sport. He confessed that while his longtime coach and father Rafel Downes who is currently the REO for Region 8 is exceptionally busy with managing the region, he will still be able to do well. “My dad cannot attend several of my matches and more so my training sessions as he is the REO and has been very busy, but whenever he can he seeks to be there. He is confident that I am ready to defend successfully and once I execute the game plan properly then this year’s title is already in the bag,” he declared.
The young hinterland tennis star expressed the view that the GLTA should aggressively endeavor to take the sport to the various communities stressing that he remains confident that a number of Amerindian youths would be interested. “Tennis is a very expensive sport, as a matter of fact all sports are expensive as effective training is a critical factor in achieving the expected outcome. However, how can one train properly of they cannot afford the basic equipment and resources needed to enhance their ability to compete effectively. This is not just jumping unto a tennis court and hitting a ball it is more than just that. The balls to train, the rackets to train, the right foods to eat while training and so much more are critically important in the overall success of this” he said. He admitted that had it not been for the generous support and assistance of a number of persons and /or companies his growth and development in the sport would have been impossible.
Meanwhile, coordinator of the competition Robert Bostwick disclosed that this year’s competition has seen the largest number of participations with some 60 odd persons slated to compete in the various categories. He said that he expects a very high level of competition noting that despite the challenges in terms of preparations that everything is in place for the eagerly anticipated competition. He boasted that the GBTI competition is one of the most sought out after competition owing to the level and standard, adding that the prizes are equally attractive also. “This is a competition that is considered to be the best within Guyana and this year we will see some for competitions representing Uganda and Brazil,” he added.
While Downes is the defending champion for the male open, Nicola Ramdyan is the female defending champion. The mixed doubles was won last year by Daniel Lowe and Aretta Dey, while the male doubles defending champions are Jason Andrews and Anthony Downes while Afruica Gentle and Carol Humphrey won the female doubles title.
