– Advertisement –
By Neto Baptiste
In its bid to ensure the game is being played across the length and breather of Antigua, the Antigua and Barbuda Table Tennis Association (ABTTA) has placed close to 20 boards at various schools across the island.
This is according to President of the association, Charles ‘Chucky’ Bellott, who said they are hoping to equip other schools within the coming weeks.
“We have been placing boards at schools, so at this point we’re up to 17 schools on our own and in July we get eight more boards. We have two that we are repurposing so we will be able to place another 10 boards so we are trying to help ourselves,” he said.
A former national table tennis player, Bellott said he continues to advocate on the association’s behalf, both locally and outside of Antigua, as they seek to build fruitful partnerships that will benefit the sport and it’s athletes here.
“We continue to lobby with the Ministry of Sports through the ADARP programme. I have met several times with the principals of an international table tennis or sporting company, Stag, and the gentleman Vivek Kohli, is absolutely willing to work with Antigua and Barbuda; he has bought into the vision and we only need a start. We’re waiting for a response from ADARP and while we wait, we are trying to help ourselves so yesterday [June 24] at the function, we debuted our homemade table tennis board. The response was good and if that is the route we have to take then that is the route we have to take,” he said.
The ABTTA boss also thanked the People’s Republic of China for the support that the body continues to receive is trying to elevate the sport here in Antigua.
“The People’s Republic of China, through the local embassy, has been extremely helpful to the Antigua and Barbuda Table Tennis Association. Last year or the year before, we got five boards and we did the inaugural Friendship Paddle competition and so they are always there standing ready. Also, we’ve sent people to China two years now and we’re ready to send another four or five in August/September of this year,” Bellott said.
The table tennis association is currently hosting a number of initiatives at the Multipurpose Exhibition & Cultural Center they hope will assist in growing the body’s membership.
About The Author
– Advertisement –
