SVGTTA outreach programme begins

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association (SVGTTA) began its outreach programme on Saturday, 6 December, in the Layou community.

During the exercise, which lasted from 3.00 to 6.00PM at the Layou Vocational School, the Association donated a table tennis board, six racquets and a quantity of balls to encourage the development and increased popularity of the sport in Layou.{{more}}

National table tennis coach, Bob Ballantyne, along with manager of the national team, Elliott Charles, and national player Romano Spencer conducted coaching sessions and engaged in exhibition play for the benefit of the more than forty interested persons who turned out to the exercise.

During the informal exercise, Charles disclosed that the table tennis association recently received seven boards from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and will be distributing them to various communities across the country.

He said, beginning with Layou, the SVGTTA will engage in periodic coaching programmes throughout the state in an effort to increase the popularity of the sport.

Charles also said the SVGTTA will also try to push the game in primary and secondary schools. He made reference to the young table tennis players who recently placed third in the men’s team competition at the just concluded OECS Table Tennis Championship in St. Lucia as he encouraged the prospective players that once they put in the effort they can become national champions and also represent their country.

National coach Bob Ballantyne expressed surprise at the large turn out.

He said that he was especially pleased that most of them were under fifteen years of age.

During the coaching session, Ballantyne impressed upon the enthusiastic youngsters that constant practice would bring improvement.

At the end of the donation/coaching session, Camesha Welcome thanked the visitors on behalf of the Layou community.

Meanwhile, the annual Jim Maloney Memorial Table Tennis Tournament will begin today at the Old Government Printery Building. The competition will be played in two categories – junior and senior males.

The SVGTTA has also announced that ten persons have been selected to participate in the National Olympic sponsored live-in academy. They will be coached by Bob Ballantyne, Carlton Daniel and Kendall Charles.