The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will host the much-anticipated National Senior Table Tennis Championships 2025 this weekend, marking the event’s return after a two-year break. The championships promise high-level competition, where several of the country’s leading players will take to the tables for national titles and a place in Guyana’s table tennis history.
Originally scheduled for the National Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, the championships will now take place at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, on September 27–28 and October 4, 2025, following the resolution of recent venue challenges.
The tournament will feature men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and open competitions.
Men’s Competition
With five-time national men’s champion Christopher Franklin absent this year, the men’s competition is wide open for new contenders to rise.
• Shemar Britton, Guyana’s top international player, enters as the favourite. Recently returning from a high-level training camp in the USA, Britton is determined to capture the crown.
• Jonathan Van Lange, West Indies Under-19 cricket captain and a rising table tennis star, has been excelling on multiple fronts. His performance at the Caribbean Senior Championships and selection for the Pan Am TT Championships underline his potential, though his cricket duties may impact his challenge.
• Niran Bissu, fresh off his second senior national team appearance in Barbados, is known for his explosive attacking game and could pose a serious threat.
• Elishaba Johnson, an experienced and versatile player, will be aiming to cement his place among the nation’s elite.
• Joel Alleyne, a seasoned competitor, brings grit, experience, and a fighting spirit that always makes him dangerous.
• Nigel Bryan, former national champion, recently returned from training in India and has signalled his intent to reclaim a spot on the national team.
The men’s field also includes ambitious young players such as Malachi Moore, Krystian Sahadeo, Colin Wong, Umar Pervival, and Hewley Griffith (visiting from the UK), with reports that former standout Paul David and other overseas-based Guyanese may also enter.
Women’s Competition
On the women’s side, competition is set to be wide open due to notable absences:
• Defending champion Chelsea Edghill is still recovering from injury and may not compete this year.
• Natalie Cummings remains uncertain due to professional commitments.
• Thuraia Thomas, currently studying in Trinidad and Tobago, has formally indicated her unavailability.
This opens the door for emerging talents such as Jasmine Billingy, Samara Sukhai, Akira Watson, Angela Robinson, and Shackey Damon to make their mark and vie for top honours.
Rebuilding and Looking Ahead
The staging of this year’s National Senior Championships comes at a pivotal time for the GTTA. Following leadership changes and the transition of several key national team members, the championships will:
• Serve as the foundation for re-establishing the national ranking system.
• Provide the basis for future national team selections.
• Act as preparation for upcoming regional and international competitions, including the 2026 CAC Games, 2025 Islamic Games, and other regional events.
The GTTA reaffirms its commitment to restoring table tennis to national prominence, offering a platform for both seasoned competitors and the emerging generation to showcase their talent.
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