Daniel Brown, aged 8, also learns the ropes of a ping pong player.

By Mwangi Ngamate
mwangi@caymannetnews.com

Boosted by its recent incorporation to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Ping Pong in the Cayman Islands will be holding a special fun day tomorrow 20 June, starting at 10:00 am at the George Hicks Campus.

The Association is out to have more players participating in the game that will make the sport more exciting than ever before. As such the association is on a recruitment mission.

The ITTF will allow the Cayman Islands Table Tennis Association (CITTA) to have access to coaching, expertise and standardisation that goes with the membership.

Speaking to Cayman Net News the association’s President Peter Smith called the membership a landmark move.

This will also allow Caymanian players to register in international and regional tournaments as well as hosting the same.

The Table Tennis Association has made inroads into the Cayman sporting scene, attracting up to a few dozen players on any given night of play at the George Hicks Campus canteen on Tuesday and Thursday nights, as well as on Saturday mornings.

Players range from as young as 10 years old on up to the more ‘mature’ players, from beginners to the more seasoned competitors, attracting both male and female players. Table tennis truly is a sport with wide appeal to all ages, both genders and all levels or experience, with some just getting in the groove of the game and others really having an aerobic workout, said Mr Smith.

Table Tennis is one of the world’s popular sport table tennis and is enjoyable as it is healthy. Kids are encouraged to play at a young age as it develops hand – eye coordination and quick reflexes and keeps the joints supple and muscles toned.

At its best table tennis is a high speed chess game, where the player must not only be in the moment, but also anticipate his opponent moves. A player needs the footwork of a boxer, the reflexes of a racing driver and the stamina of a marathon runner as well as the ability to return a small ball that may be travelling in excess of 50mph.

CITTA is encouraging all TT enthusiasts to join them in celebrating Olympic Day at George Hicks for an open day 20 June, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Mr Smith advised the public to come prepared for a day of fun where you can match skills with Cayman’s finest players, re-discover your skills or just be a part of the new association.

Ping Pong is the national sport of China, with more than 20 million registered players and more than 100 countries participate in the Table Tennis World Championships. The United States and China used the game as a way for the countries military to cool off cold war tension by having goodwill delegations for the game.

The officers of the CITTA are: President – Peter Smith,Vice President –Rolland Henry, Secretary – Richard Lake, Treasurer – Robert Sairsingh and Public Relations Officer Colleen Williams.