Table tennis is going to make a big impact in Cayman soon.
Although it is an Olympic sport, it has no official status here. That will change soon thanks to the efforts of keen enthusiasts like Richard Lake who has worked hard to get the sport started in recent years.
‘After Hurricane Ivan, in 2005, we tried to get table tennis up and running but a few of the guys organising it left the island and it fell apart,’ Lake said. He was talking at Governor’s House at the open day. Funnily enough, the governor Stuart Jack used to be a keen player and enjoyed a game on Saturday.
Lake along with a host of others, including James Myles, Troy Alleyne and Norris Martin, set up a steering committee in December. Within a few weeks all the documentation will be complete and the government will have sanctioned it.
To give anyone wanting to play table tennis a chance, there are session at George Hicks School every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-10pm.
‘We’re using George Hicks as a pilot for coaching and will move it along to other schools,’ Lake said.
His love for table tennis began as a child playing in the family garage in Trinidad. ‘I was inspired by my dad who loved table tennis.
‘We will approach the Olympic Committee and join the International Table Tennis Federation through them.’
The sports day was a huge success. Over 30 sports organisations were there, including cricket, karate, boxing, sailing, kayaking, netball, basketball, little league, equestrian, squash and badminton.
Tennis was one sport on show at Governor’s House Photos: Ron Shillingforod
Lake has a passion for the game
There were many marttial arts demonstrations Photo: Matthew Yates
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