Considered the marquee event of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association’s calendar of events, the GBTI Open tournament served off on Friday afternoon at that bank’s Courts in Bel Air Park, Georgetown after a simple ceremony.
Now in its tenth year, signalling the longstanding relationship between the GBTI and the GLTA, competition in this year’s tournament is in every aspect expected to surpass what had obtained in previous years.
GBTI Executive Director Richard Isava and GLTA President Samuel Barakat take a photo op with players and other officials
Speaking at the simple opening ceremony on Friday afternoon, GLTA President Samuel Barakat was oozing with gratitude towards the company.
“First, I must express our heartfelt gratitude to GBTI for not only sponsoring this tournament, but they recognise that tennis is their sport; and we are so proud to be associated with them,” Barakat said.
This year’s tournament is expected to run until June 23, and will see players of all ages competing in twelve categories, namely: ladies and men’s open singles, junior boys and girls’ open singles, ladies, men’s and mixed open doubles, men’s over 35 singles and doubles, men’s over 45 singles, novice medley singles and novice medley doubles.
Under overcast conditions, Executive Director of GBTI, Trinidadian Richard Isava, made the first serve of the tournament. Prior to this, he revealed that the company is always elated to be a part of tennis, and sport in general.
“It’s our pleasure to be a part of this for the past ten years, and we will continue to be a proud sponsor of tennis and all other sports in Guyana,” Isava said.
The tournament will continue on weekdays from 5:00pm, while weekend action will serve off from 9:00am.
