In preparation for the first-ever National Schools’ Table Tennis Championship, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) donated table tennis equipment to bridge the gap for students in remote areas.
The presentation took place at CPGL Kingston Head Office on Thursday.
CPGL, in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), is sponsoring the nationwide championship.
The donation included 14 tables distributed to schools across Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine. An additional table was given to the Ruimveldt Children’s Home and Care Centre.
The Ministry of Education’s DCEO for Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development, Marti De Souza applauded the initiative’s alignment with the ministry’s focus on sport development.
He expressed the belief that the equipment will positively impact the hinterland communities.
GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe highlighted the significance of the donation in enabling table tennis to be played “across the length and breadth” of Guyana. He assured that the equipment will be complemented by training in the villages.
Munroe credited CPGL’s investment, guided by their motto of “community investment, building capacity, working in harmony with persons, and following sustainable development,” for making this possible.
The shared love for table tennis between China and Guyana, with China being a global powerhouse in the sport, has fostered past support from China in the form of equipment and training.
CPGL’s sponsorship aims to build upon this foundation by establishing a nationwide school championship.