The Antigua and Barbuda Table Tennis Association (ABTTA) made a significant stride in the promotion and development of the sport in Antigua and Barbuda, following what they dubbed “a highly successful series of training sessions and initiatives” led by the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) expert, Aleena Edwards from Trinidad.
The event saw 26 Physical Education (PE) Teachers enhancing their proficiency and earning Club Coach Certificates, a release said, and over three impactful days, seven schools were visited, introducing 154 students (76 girls and 78 boys) to the sport of table tennis.
For the first time, boards were placed at Christ the King High School, Clare Hall Secondary School and Princess Margaret School. Demonstrations and sessions were also conducted at Jennings Secondary, Pares Secondary, and St Nicholas Primary School. The board placed at Christ the King High School will be shared with St John’s Catholic Primary School.
There are now seven boards spread across seven schools with more boards scheduled for distribution in November.
“Ms Edwards, with her vast wealth of knowledge, not only conducted transformative sessions with members of the national training squad, but also engaged with community members at the Multipurpose Cultural Centre, ensuring a broader appreciation and love for the sport,” the release said.
Due to the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe, a planned visit to Barbuda had to be postponed. “ABTTA’s President, Charles ‘Chucky’ Bellot, intends to visit in November, accompanied by the newly appointed Table Tennis Coordinator, Ms Tritia George. This visit aims to facilitate engaging sessions with PE teachers and interested coaches and to introduce this vibrant sport to the island’s learning institutions,” the communique added.
According to President Bellot, “the intervention went extremely well, marking yet another triumphant step in our ongoing journey of making table tennis one of the most popular and passionately played sports in our beloved nation”.
The ABTTA extended a very special thank you was to the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee, Embassy – People’s Republic of China, ABTTA Treasurer, Mitchell Coates, ABTTA Member/Player, Philmore Athill and Global Marketing Concepts.
