GBTI OPEN Novice category is 5 years old

Jun 28, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....gory-is-5-years-old/

One of the innovations implemented by the GLTA five years ago was the creation of a Novice category which allowed for persons new to the sport of tennis to get a taste of competition and to eventually graduate to the main categories of tournaments. Since professional tennis is a sport with a very high learning curve, this is a way to increase participation in tennis in a rudimentary form. Whilst participation in the category has waned to an extent, there is still the welcome participation of many persons keen to test their skills against their fellow newcomers.

This year featured prominent personalities the likes of Delon Fraser, Liaison to the Crime Chief, who defeated Non-Pariel Tennis Club President Surendra Khayyam 6-3 to take home the Title. In their semis, Fraser defeated US Peace Corps, Country Director, Kury Cobham 6-3 and Khayyam edged Leonie Sears 7-5 who has improved significantly with only one year of training from Men’s Champ Anthony Downes. Fraser will now advance to Open Categories.

Ask any tennis player and they will tell you it’s like day and night playing someone in a friendly match as opposed to tournament conditions. The Novices certainly would welcome the opportunity to compete against their peers instead of seasoned players and it is hoped that more players would participate to keep the category alive in future tournaments.

In the 2017 GBTI Open Novice Medley Singles, a total of 15 persons matched skills as males and females competed against each other. The inaugural Novice categories in 2011 had featured 32 players. The decline can be attributed to the reduction of active clubs from 11 during that time, down to 5 in 2017. This is a stark indication that the sport needs facilities and clubs nationwide to grow. In this regard, the GLTA continues to press the authorities to be non-discriminatory in their support for sports that have over the years managed to successfully hold their own with little or no support.