T-tennis team off to CAC

HIGHLY motivated to bring glory to Barbados, the national table tennis team flew off to Puerto Rico yesterday to compete at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC).The championship will take place at San German, the same location used for the 52nd Caribbean Championships that ended two weeks ago.Barbados won six medals at those games and the CAC squad is looking for similar success at these highly prestigious games.“We want to get on the medal podium. All the athletes are committed to this,” team manager Marguerita Felix told NATIONSPORT shortly before the team left for Puerto Rico.Barbados was one of only three English-speaking nations that competed at the Caribbean Championships, but according to Felix the Bajans are pleased they attended as it has made them more familiar with the conditions under which they will now be competing.“I think they will be mentally stronger and more focused this time around,” Felix said.“They are very excited and have been in contact with me every day. They have bonded nicely and are keen to hook up with Robert Roberts because of the high respect they have for him.”Roberts, who has been residing in the United States for several years, has made himself available to represent Barbados at the CAC Games and has replaced Abbie Clarke who played in the recent tournament in Puerto Rico.Roberts, a Caribbean champion on three occasions, has been coaching and playing in the United States. He worked with local players Shane Norville and Anderson Carrington during one of their trips to the United States, and he has been training with former national coach Rawle Alleyne, who also resides in the United States, in preparation for the CAC Games.Felix revealed that Alleyne and Gregory Riley, a former Barbados champion and national player, who has also made his home in the United States, are trying to create opportunities for Barbadian players to get scholarships in Texas.“They are committed to helping develop our table tennis,” Felix said.Trevor Farley is the captain of the men’s team that also includes Mark Dowell, Anderson Carrington and Roberts.  Sherice Felix is the captain of a women’s team that includes Ann Reid, Sabrina Worrell and former Caribbean Junior champion Julia Morris. Carl Sealy is the coach.