As if the hopes of a nation wresting one’s shoulders to qualify for the 3rd Youth Olympic Games is not enough for a 16 year-old, the added pressure of having to write Caribbean Secondary Examinations should vividly illustrate the current situation of National Table Tennis Player Miguel Wong.
Wong left these shores on Friday afternoon en-route to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to participate in the Latin America Continental championship.
Miguel Wong
A stellar performance by the player could see him qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympics Games in Buenos Aries, Argentina and though cognisant of the pressure, he is focused on reaming clam.
” It is allot pressure knowing everyone is backing you and saying good things about you, I just have to go and out, put up a good performance and don’t let it bother me as I try to remain cool”, the player revealed.
Wong is attempting to follow in the footsteps of fellow racket wielder Chelsea Edghill who attended the 2nd edition of the Youth Games held in China.
“This is a big opportunity for me because not allot of table tennis players get an opportunity to compete in such a high level of competition from Guyana”, he expressed.
Adding that “I have been training very intense; I will go and put my best foot forward and try to take Guyana further than many other countries”.
In the highlighting the changes he has made to his technique, the right-hander explained that “I have been trying to improve the mental toughness physical endurance during matches”.
With six years playing experience under his belt, Wong credited the nurturing of his Titans Table Tennis Coach Dwain Dick and the assistance of Idi Lewis for helping him reach this stage.
The Mae’s student is hopefully that this exposure could help attain a scholarship but as soon he returns to these shores his focus will be continuing his CSEC Exams on May 22.
His participation is this event while offering the opportunity to qualify also enhances his chances of gaining a Universality place given the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) position on Universality allocated provisions.
It also gives possible selection to the ITTF “With the Future in Mind” Road to Buenos Aires program which offers enhanced and rigorous training regime.
Further, he will also be attending the South American Youth games scheduled for September 2017 and the Pan American Junior and Cadet Games qualifier which will help his international ranking.
