Allimah Eastman and Patrick Triumph (with trophies) along with other participants and officials after the presentation for the table tennis competition
The University of Guyana’s Sports Unit successfully concluded its 2024 Table Tennis Tournament with Patrick Triumph and Allimah Eastman emerging as the champions in the men’s and women’s singles respectively.
The event was held at the University’s Students Society building at the Turkeyen Campus and attracted a total of 80 entries from across all faculties and departments. Participants (23.6 per cent females and 76.4 per cent males) showcased the growing interest in sports across the university.
Present at the opening ceremony were Competition Coordinator Osafa Dos Santos, UG’s Sports Organiser Jaime Skeete, Olympian and Guest Speaker Chelsea Edghill and officials from the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), along with senior officials of the University community.
Edghill shared her inspiring journey to becoming an Olympian, urging participants to remain disciplined in their training and to follow their dreams. After her motivating speech, she engaged participants in a warm-up session on the tennis table, setting the stage for the exciting competition ahead.
The tournament format featured a knockout structure for the men’s singles, while the women’s singles followed a round-robin approach. The competition was fierce, with nail-biting moments and intense sets throughout the event.
In the men’s singles quarter-finals, Colis Allen, Victor Rogers, Rickford Garrett, Ramesh Rajbidar, Quincy Bourne, Christopher Nelson, Stephen Butters, and Triumph battled it out for a spot in the semi-finals. After a series of thrilling matches, Rajbidar and Triumph advanced to the final.
The men’s singles final saw Triumph claim victory in two straight sets (11-5, 11-9) against a determined Rajbidar, earning him the title of Men’s Singles Champion 2024.
The women’s singles round-robin section was equally exciting, with Eastman winning all her matches to secure the title. Nicky Melville placed second, and Tirishatha Semple and Sarah Rai tied for third place.
The tournament concluded with a simple awards presentation ceremony. Women’s champion Eastman expressed her satisfaction with the level of competition, but hoped for more female participation in future events. Men’s champion Triumph encouraged participants to integrate sports like table tennis into their extracurricular activities, noting its benefits in building discipline, resilience, and confidence. He also offered his coaching expertise to further nurture the talent displayed during the tournament.
This year’s tournament exemplified the University of Guyana’s commitment to fostering athletic talent and encouraging students to excel in both sports and academics.
