Shacoil Bird (left) and Malone Bird (right) are currently representing Jamaica at the Pan American U11 and U13 Table Tennis Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Jamaica’s team of brothers Malone and Shacoil Bird got as far as the Round of 16 stage of the Boys’ Under 11 Team category at the ongoing 2024 Pan American Under 11 and Under 13 Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The boys first advanced from Group 2 of the preliminary phase on Tuesday with a win 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic after suffering a 0-3 loss at the hands of the USA B.
They were then defeated 3-0 in the Round of 16 by Guatemala B on Wednesday.
Malone Bird and Gustavo Borrayo opened proceedings in the tie with a thrilling five-set battle which the Guatemalan eventually won.
Borrayo took the first set 11-8 before Bird won the second in a similar score line to tie the match at one-set all.
Borrayo then re-established a lead with a dominant 11-5 third set win before Bird rallied once again to win the fourth 11-6.
The deciding set was the least competitive as Borrayo ran away with an 11-3 win.
The second singles match between Shacoil Bird and Omar Ixcaragua was far less competitive with the latter winning in straight-sets (11-9, 11-6, 11-4).
The doubles encounter was next which the Guatemalans won in another five-set contest.
Borrayo and Ixcaragua took the first set 11-7 before Jamaica’s Bird brothers made it 1-1 with an 11-9 second set win.
Guatemala took the third in a similar score line as the first before the Jamaicans set up a decisive fifth set with an 11-3 fourth set win.
The deciding set was competitive with both pairs battling to an eventual 11-8 win by Guatemala.
Guatemala B got all the way to the semi-finals of the Boys’ U11 Team category where they lost 3-0 to USA B.
The category was won by USA A who beat USA B 3-2 in the final on Wednesday.
The Bird brothers will open their singles campaigns in the first phase on Thursday.
Malone Bird will take on Guatemala’s Omar Ixcaragua and Canada’s Daniel Liang in Group 3 while Shacoil Bird will face Brazil’s Joao Ribeiro and Ecuador’s Juan Gonzalez in Group 4.
They play Argentina’s Luca Marcial and Valentino Villegas in doubles on Friday.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
Bird brothers set to fly Jamaica's flag at 2024 Pan Am U-11 and U-13 Table Tennis Championships
The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) has announced that twin brothers Malone and Shacoil Bird will represent Jamaica at the 2024 Pan Am U-11 and U-13 Table Tennis Championships. The young athletes will compete in the Boy’s Teams, Boy’s Doubles, and Boy’s Singles events, bringing their exceptional talent to the prestigious tournament set to take place from August 19-25 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Accompanying the talented duo will be their coach, Orvill Young, and Delegate/Manager, Dale Parham. The team is scheduled to depart Jamaica on Sunday, August 18, 2024, and return on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. JTTA President Ingrid Graham will also join the team on August 22 to meet with Pan Am Table Tennis President Juan Vila to discuss matters concerning the sport's future. Her accommodation is being graciously provided by the Dominican Republic Table Tennis Federation.
The Bird brothers earned their spot in the Pan Am Championships thanks to their outstanding performances in the boy’s under-11 category at the 2024 CRTTF Mini and Pre-cadet Championships. Malone Bird captured gold in the Singles event, while the duo clinched gold in the Doubles event and secured third place in the Teams event, proving their prowess on the regional stage.
"We are confident that they will give a good account of themselves, their country and by extension, the Caribbean," said JTTA President Ingrid Graham.
The JTTA expressed gratitude to the sponsors and donors who played a crucial role in facilitating the team’s participation in the upcoming championships. These include the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), Western Sports Limited, G.R.O.W.T.H Foundation, and Friends of Table Tennis.
As the Bird brothers prepare to showcase their skills on the international stage, the JTTA is confident that they will represent Jamaica and the Caribbean with pride and excellence. The association, along with their supporters, eagerly anticipates their performances and wishes them success in their pursuit of glory at the 2024 Pan Am U-11 and U-13 Table Tennis Championships.
JTTA President Ingrid Graham issues urgent call for financial support to revive table tennis in Jamaica
The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) is sounding the alarm for financial support as it strives to restore the sport to its former glory. Spearheaded by JTTA President Ingrid Graham, the association is seeking additional sponsorship to sustain its vital initiatives, particularly the recently concluded summer camp aimed at nurturing the next generation of Jamaican table tennis talent.
In collaboration with Skills Unlimited Table Tennis Academy (SUTTA), Taylor Hall, and Chancellor Hall, the JTTA hosted a summer camp from July 15 to August 14 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Mona. This camp, which brought together both junior and senior athletes for intensive training, has been hailed as a success. However, despite the camp's achievements, financial challenges loom large, threatening the future of this critical program.
Graham emphasized the urgent need for additional funding, noting that while the camp was a paid program, more than half of the over 30 participants were unable to contribute financially. This shortfall has placed a significant burden on the JTTA, jeopardizing the sustainability of the camp and other similar initiatives.
This year's camp received backing from several organizations and individuals, including Taylor Hall, Chancellor Hall, JTTA, SUTTA, the Sports Development Foundation Jamaica, Western Sports, Optical Solutions International Limited, Graham International Consulting and Research INC, past players, and the families of junior athletes. Their contributions ranged from providing meals and tokens for participants to offering free use of facilities.
Jide Lewis, the father of national players Gianna and Tsenaye Lewis, underscored the camp's importance in laying a firm foundation for Jamaica's future athletes. He emphasized the need for more sponsors to ensure that the athletes receive adequate training at home before competing overseas, adding that he intends to send his children back next year.
Despite the support garnered this year, Graham highlighted the need for additional sponsorship to ensure the camp's continuity and growth. The JTTA hopes to make the summer camp an annual event, with even more participants in the coming years.
Jamaica aims for table tennis supremacy with ambitious Summer Camp initiative
Jamaica is setting its sights on reclaiming the top spot in Caribbean table tennis over the next decade, with the recent launch of a summer camp aimed at nurturing the next generation of talent. The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA), in collaboration with Skills Unlimited Table Tennis Academy (SUTTA) and Taylor and Chancellor Halls at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, hosted the inaugural SUTTA/Taylor Hall/Chancellor Hall Table Tennis Summer Camp from July 15 to August 14 at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. This camp marks the first step in what is intended to be a series of initiatives aimed at re-establishing Jamaica’s dominance in the sport regionally.
The camp, which targeted both junior and senior athletes, was designed to enhance the skills of Jamaica's table tennis players, providing them with the training necessary to compete at the highest levels regionally. Dale Parham, Director of the Program, president of SUTTA, and head coach, expressed his hope that the camp would become an annual event, setting the foundation for sustained development in the sport.
Kingston College's table tennis coach, Colin McNeish, who also played a key role in the program, emphasized the importance of year-round preparation. He believes that with consistent training and dedication, Jamaican players have a strong chance of reclaiming the top spot in Caribbean table tennis within the next decade.
The camp featured several of Jamaica’s top under-19 national players, including Jayden Ebanks, Tsenaye Lewis, Gianna Lewis as well as Navaeh Scott and Kira Scott. Also in attendance were Karecia Peterkin, Gmarco Smith, Kayon Denton, Azizi Johnson, and Ajani Spencer. Under-11 champions Malone and Shacoil Bird, also participated, gaining valuable experience and exposure.
JTTA President Ingrid Graham praised SUTTA for launching the summer program, highlighting the significant improvement in both national players and novice participants. She noted that many young players had been lacking sufficient play time, making the camp an excellent initiative to address this gap. Graham also expressed gratitude to Taylor Hall and Chancellor Hall for providing the venue, which allowed the camp to avoid rental costs.
Coach Dale Parham, Carl Chang of Western Sports and JTTA President Ingrid Graham
Athol Hamilton, Taylor Hall's Student Services and Development Manager, echoed the importance of the camp, stating that supporting it was an easy decision given Taylor Hall’s strong investment in sports. Hamilton also indicated that efforts are being made to make the facilities available throughout the academic year to ensure ongoing training.
National players Gianna and Tsenaye Lewis shared their enthusiasm for the camp, underscoring the importance of consistent practice in honing their skills. Both sisters expressed a desire for the camp to become a permanent fixture on the calendar, citing its significant benefits for their development as players.
Carl Chang of Western Sports, who attended the camp's closing tournament, underscored the camp’s role in reviving table tennis in Jamaica. Although Western Sports is not the title sponsor, they have provided support for junior-level players, further contributing to the growth of the sport.
The summer camp also served as a crucial preparatory phase for the players ahead of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association National Senior & Junior Championships, scheduled to take place from September 6-8 at the National Indoor Sports Complex.
The success of the camp was made possible through the support of Taylor Hall, Chancellor Hall, JTTA, SUTTA, the Sports Development Foundation Jamaica, Western Sports, Optical Solutions International Limited, and Graham International Consulting and Research INC. These partnerships reflect a collective commitment to ensuring that Jamaica once again becomes a dominant force in Caribbean table tennis.
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