More than 60 young table tennis players from across Guyana are expected to participate in the 2026 Nursery Table Tennis Sports Academy Summer Camp, which begins on Tuesday at the New National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
The two-week “Teach Them Young” programme is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the National Sports Commission in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association. This year, participants from Berbice, Bartica, Linden and Essequibo will join players from Georgetown as part of efforts to expand the sport’s development nationwide.
The camp will run from July 14 to July 24, with sessions scheduled from Monday to Friday between 10:00 hrs and noon. It will target boys and girls aged 16 and under, who will be introduced to the sport and given opportunities to learn and practise in a fun and engaging environment.
Organisers said the programme is intended to help participants develop fundamental skills, learn basic playing techniques and prepare for future competitions. It will also be used to identify talented children, encourage their involvement in sport and promote healthy competitive habits.
A novice category will form an important part of the camp as the organisers seek to attract children who have little or no previous experience in table tennis.
The programme will feature theoretical and practical sessions, allowing the participants to gain firsthand playing experience while also developing their knowledge of the sport. According to the organisers, the programme will provide 40 hours of instruction over the two-week period.
The coaching panel will include certified International Table Tennis Federation Level One and Level Two coaches. Participants will be required to maintain an attendance rate of at least 90 per cent to receive certificates at the end of the camp.
The annual programme has produced several of Guyana’s leading mini-cadet, pre-cadet, cadet, junior and senior players over the years.
Among the players who previously attended the camp are Trenace Lowe, Zach Gonsalves, Jonathan Sankar, Edinho Lewis, Matthew Khan, Christopher Franklin, Jody-Ann Blake, Michelle John, Natalie Cummings, Joseph Johnson, Sunil Logan, Gibran Sarfaraz, Vikash Panday, Priyanna Ramdhani, Nigel Bryan, Joel Alleyne and Warren Hackshaw.
Other former participants include Elishaba Johnson, Jamaal Duff, Kristie Lopes, Chelsea Edghill, Kyle Edghill, Shemar Britton, Selenas Jackman, Khalil Ninvalle, Terrance Rausch, Kaysan Ninvalle, Jonathan Vanlange, Jasmine Billingy, Thuraia Thomas, Zamani Johnson, Abiniora Johnson and Linden Johnson.
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