Jamaica Table Tennis (JTT) President Andrew Lue says the seven bronze medals won at the just-concluded 2023 Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Youth Championship held in Georgetown, Guyana, is a huge success for the country.

Jamaica’s triumphs came in the girls’ Under-15 team (Kayan Denton, Karecia Peterkin, Keeara Whyte); boys’ Under-15 team (Brian Blake, Logan Royes, Gari Wythe, Gmarco Smith); boys’ Under-15 doubles (Brian Blake, Gari Wythe); boys’ Under-15 singles (Gari Wythe); girls’ Under-19 team (Kelsey Davidson, Tsenaye Lewis, Liana Campbell, Olivia Petrekin); mixed double Under-19 (Kelsey Davidson, Joel Butler); and girls’ Under-19 doubles (Liana Campbell, Olivia Petrekin).

The Jamaicans bettered the four bronze medals won at last year’s tournament and have qualified for the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Pan American Championships, which is to be held at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in West Virginia, United States, from July 23 to July 30.

“The teams are proud of their achievements in qualifying for the ITTF Pan American Games to be held in Charleston. Last year the teams qualified but didn’t make it to the tournament because we didn’t have enough resources to send them.

“But hopefully, with the tournament being closer to home here in Jamaica, we could field a competitive team for the tournament,” Lue told the Jamaica Observer.

Lue said that he was very pleased with his team at the CRTTF Youth Tournament as the players showed growth.

“The championships were good, and it was a measurement of where the players are at the moment. They still have a lot of work to do and must do some serious preparation for the Pan American Games going forward.

“I think they benefited a lot from playing in the Caribbean tournament because now they know how much work is ahead of them, and I am sure they are determined to take up the slack and put their best foot forward for the Pan American tournament.

“Gari Wythe won three medals and was thus the top performer for Jamaica. Congratulations are in order for the athletes, coaches, manager, and parents who comprised the Jamaican delegation to Georgetown, Guyana,” said Lue, who thanked sponsors for partnering with the federation.