The first primary school table tennis competition was held today at the Belize Elementary Auditorium. 40 students from five different primary schools in Belize City took part in the event. Those schools included, St Mary's Anglican Primary School, St Joseph, Trinity Methodist, Wesley Upper and The Belize Elementary.
At the end of the competition, the home team Belize Elementary took both First and third place while St Joseph primary took home both second and fourth place. The competition started at 9 this morning and wrapped up at 3 this afternoon.
We spoke to the organizer and some of the winners:..
Arturo Vasquez - President, Belize Table Tennis Association
"We had the first primary school table tennis competition, the first of its kind. It will be an annual event."
Monica Bodden
"Tell us a little bit about the competition?"
Arturo Vasquez
"We started with 40 kids, 5 schools. We played robin competition where all kids play each other in 8 groups and from there the 16 winners advance to a double elimination finals."
Monica Bodden
"The students are from around the country or only Belize City?"
Arturo Vasquez
"Right now for this first one its only for Belize City. This is our first effort we made and I think we really did a good start. We had Wesley Trinity, Belize Elementary, St. Mary's and St. Joseph - those are the 5 schools."
"We started about a year ago where we trained the teachers to trained the students and then from there on we provided tables and rockets and balls to all teh schools to allow them to practice and play within their school. It's something that we did during this year and next year we plan to take it to more schools."
"Matthew Usher was first place, Tyron was second, Christian 3rd and Gillett was forth. Everybody got a trophy and the school also got a cup for them to keep."
Matthew Usher, First Place Winner
"It was hours of practice but also I've been playing for a long while - about 5 years."
Monica Bodden
"Is this a sport that you love?"
Matthew Usher, First Place Winner
"Yes."
Monica Bodden
"Tell me, what is practice like for you? You do it every day, how does it work?"
Matthew Usher, First Place Winner
"In and out, not very much recently but never give up. Just keep playing the game. The biggest challenge was actually the finals really."
Monica Bodden
"What was challenging about that?"
Matthew Usher, First Place Winner
"Just the intensity of it."
Trevon Brown, Second Place Winner
"It was a good experience, me practicing with them. We practice every lunch time and in the evening, so we put in a lot of work. I
want to say a very big thanks to Mr. Sosa, he is a very good coach."
Monica Bodden
"Tell us what was the most challenging part of this competition for you?"
Trevon Brown, Second Place Winner
"My most challenging part is when I face the 3rd place winner in the semi-finals. He beat me and then later I bet him again and then I advance to the finals."
Monica Bodden
"Now you are feeling pretty good coming in second right?"
Trevon Brown, Second Place Winner
"Yes, ma'am, proud of myself."
Monica Bodden
"You think you are going to continue this sport?"
Trevon Brown, Second Place Winner
"Yes ma'am."
Monica Bodden
"What was the most challenging part for you and today's competition?"
Rohan Gillett, 4th Place Winner
"The quarter finals when I faced a boy from Belize Elementary. He was very good but I knew I could beat him because I just believe in myself and I beat him after all."
Monica Bodden
"All in all you guys did a lot of practice and so forth?"
Rohan Gillett, 4th Place Winner
"Yes miss, every day we practice rain or shine."
Monica Bodden
"This is something that you love doing?"
Rohan Gillett, 4th Place Winner
"Yes miss."
Monica Bodden
"You plan to continue?"
Rohan Gillett, 4th Place Winner
"Yes miss."
Matthew Usher from the Belize Elementary won first place while Trevon Brown from St Joseph took the second place. Kristen Swasey from Belize Elementary won third place and Rohan Gillett from St Joseph took home fourth place. The Table Tennis Association plans on making this an annual event.
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