T-tennis Hawks tipped to fly

TRINIDAD and Tobago players Reeza Burke, Shelly-Ann Wilson and Shelly-Ann Parris are the star attractions at the two-day Petrotrin National Table-Tennis League, which serves off at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Mucurapo from 10 am today.

The bespectacled Burke will lead the Arima Hawks outfit which, under coach Ian Joseph, includes Wendell King, Garfield Gay, Dave Williams, Arnold Felix and national junior player Anson Wellington. Burke’s skill and experience will be vital if the Hawks are to be crowned Men’s League champs tomorrow. But Solo Crusaders, Trinmar, Wazuri, Oxford, Union Claxton Bay and Gladiators are not going to lie down and play dead during this weekend’s competition. Crusaders, based at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, will feature Caribbean doubles silver medallist Anthony Brown, Terry Corbin, Kenneth Permanand and the evergreen Stephen Wade. Former national king Kevin Redhead will carry the hopes of Trinmar, with Richard Loregnard leading the way for Wazuri and Vinoo Ramoutar, Naresh Jodhan, Kirk Mohammed and Anil Ramlakhan the mainstays for Oxford. Other top national players in the mix are Michael Nanton and Rory Jack (D’Abadie Youths), Khellon Roach (Patna), Courtney Pugh (Claxton Bay), Ancil Russell and the Edwards brothers Aaron and Andrew (Gladiators).

D’Abadie and Gladiators are the main contenders for the women’s trophy. Wilson, the experienced Marilyn Lewis, sisters Kerry-Ann and Jinelle Noreiga will be expected to carry the flag for D’Abadie while Verna Edwards, daughter Aleena Edwards and Claudine Goddard are the key players for Gladiators. Other national smashers due to participate are top-ranked Natalie Montes and Linda Partap for Hawks; sisters Priya and Nirveeta Ramcharan for Central Conquerors and, for the Crusaders, Parris and sisters Nicole and Celeste Motilal. This tournament will serve as a dress rehearsal for the inaugural 2004 National League.