Table tennis boss eager for regional challenge
ANDREW Lue, president of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA), says local players are upbeat and ready to go as the nine-member delegation departs the island on Wednesday for the Caribbean Region Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Mini-Cadet (U-11) and Pre-Cadet (U-13) Table Tennis Championship.
The tournament, which will be held in the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana, is set for October 14–19. The events that will be contested are Team events (boys and girls); Doubles events (boys, girls, and mixed); and Singles events (boys and girls).
Medals will be presented to each competitor in the first, second, and third places in the Doubles and Team events, while trophies will be awarded to the winners of the first three absolute places in the Singles.
“We look forward to this tournament where I am confident our young athletes will give a good account of themselves,” Lue told the Jamaica Observer.
The nine-member delegation comprises six players led by three national champions: Keeara Whyte, the Girls’ Under-13 champion; Logan Royes, the Boys’ Under-13 champion; and Ajani Spencer, the Boys’ Uunder-11 champion.
“Having three young national champions stepping up to competition at the regional level can only serve to motivate them to work harder and [will] benefit the development of the sport in Jamaica and the region,” said Lue.
“The JTTA is grateful to the Sports Development Foundation and Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports for their invaluable support. We also recognise the support of Optical Solutions International Limited who is always there for table tennis. We continue to solicit support for the development of the sport of table tennis in Jamaica,” the table tennis boss added.
Jamaica: U13 female team, singles and doubles – Keeara Whyte, Kayan Denton
U-13 male team, singles and doubles – Logan Royes, Gmarco Smith
U-11 male team, singles and doubles – Ajani Spencer, Anthony Bird
U-13 Mixed doubles – Logan Royes/Keeara Whyte, Gmarco Smith/Kayan Denton
Coaches – Dale Parham and Sandra Riettie; Team manager
— Andrew Lue