Guyana to host this year’s ‘Cup of the Guianas’ tennis tournament
The Guyana Tennis Association (GLTA) has named a strong team to compete at this year’s tri-nation Goodwill competition to be held here later this year.
The other competing countries are Suriname and French Guiana and the opening ceremony takes place Thursday at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Courts from 5.30pm.
According to a release from the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) the annual competition will be called `Cup of the Guianas’.
The format is a team event of boys and girls competing in the U18, U14, and U12 divisions. “The competition originally started in Suriname during October 2012 as a collaboration between the three countries as a developmental platform for tennis which would not stretch the available resources of the national associations and is cost-effective,” stated the release from the GTA.
“The team also agreed to the more tangible purpose to strengthen relationships through tennis but with the greater vision of the event ultimately evolving to include other countries in the region,” the release added.
“Last year the executives of the founding members recognized the growth and quality of play exhibited at the Goodwill competition. The vision of expanding the invitation was birthed and Martinique was invited to join the competition last year and managed to outplay the other countries and gain first place.
“Guyana was also afforded the opportunity to invite another country but due to the lack of courts the decision was made to remain with the founding members competing this year.
This year’s competition will be held at two private facilities, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Recreational Centre which has two tennis courts and a single court at the residence of veteran player, Harry Panday.
The Guyana team is:-Boys U18 Heimraj Resaul and Jordan Beaton; Girls U18 Afruica Gentle and Kalyca Fraser; Boys U14 Joshua Kalekyezi and Viraj Sharma; Girls U14 Sarah Klautky and Alana Chung; Boys U12 Jeremiah Kalekyzei and Vadeanand Resaul; Girls U12 Akilah Jones and Amba Persaud.