If returning president of the Barbados Table Tennis Association, Trevor Browne has his way, by the end of the year, Barbados should have a table tennis academy to cater to the needs of not only serious table tennis players, but the wider community.
He raised the issue when the association held its annual general meeting at the Table Tennis Centre, Nursery Drive, St Michael, last Monday night.
“We are looking at creating a table tennis academy where we will actually formalize and professionalize the whole sport and make a business of table tennis. That is the main focus for this year,” Browne told NATIONSPORT.
“What we are looking at doing is creating an entity that will be focused on making a business of table tennis from coaching, training, overseas tours, even to the point of having a programme towards the CXC [Caribbean Examinations Council] physical education certificate; so we are going to have a formal programme where students can actually work towards that CXC.”
Browne added that the association would be “providing fitness” and would be “targeting people like BARP [Barbados Association of Retired Persons] and various businesses . . . interested in a lifelong fitness programme at a competitive cost.
“We can almost guarantee that once you start this programme these people will be fit for life. We are actually selling fitness, training and the development of table tennis and we are trying to make that into a business.”
The election process saw David Harris being elevated to first vice-president, with Jeffrey Bostic not standing for re-election. Dale Rudder was elected second vice-president, the position previously held by Harris.
Edwin Jordan defeated Marguerita Felix for the crucial post of secretary while Sabrina Wood was returned unopposed as treasurer.
The other elected members of the executive council who will serve as floor representatives are Felix, Trevor Farley, Aaron Barker and Roger Maxwell. (PH)
