Hopes are high for Saint Lucia’s national team as they gear up for the Caribbean Region Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Youth Championships. The small but determined contingent aims to secure a top-four finish to qualify for the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, in August.
The CRTTF tournament will take place at Barbados’ Garfield Sobers Gymnasium from April 20-26, testing the endurance, hand-eye coordination, and speed of the region’s top young players.
Leading the charge is head coach Chris Wells, a seasoned administrator and former player who also coordinates the National Table Tennis Association’s schools’ programme. Wells expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete against a field of talented and well-prepared opponents.
With two-time Junior Sportsman of the Year DeAndre Calderon now aged out of youth competition, the spotlight shifts to 15-year-old Manie Eleuthere, the reigning National Under-19 champion and a former Caribbean Under-13 titleholder. The powerfully built Ciceron Secondary School student will be joined by Joshua Lubin, Stephen Steele, Leshon Francis and Khamari Harris in Saint Lucia’s quest for glory.
Eleuthere and Lubin will lead the Under-19 boys’ doubles, while Harris and Steele form the B team. Francis will pair with Shatal Charles in the Under-15 mixed doubles – a duo who made history two years ago by clinching gold in the Under-13 mixed doubles at the Caribbean Championships. Charles, a Saint Lucia Sports Academy student, will also compete in the Under-15 girls’ singles and team up with Antigua & Barbuda’s Kashyap Stuti in the Under-19 girls’ doubles.
“So I believe we will do extremely well, once the athletes are focused,” Wells said. “They all have their goals set.
He explained that while larger nations like Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and the Dominican Republic are fielding full squads across age groups, this country is taking its own focused approach.
“Saint Lucia will be going with the athletes that we know can go overseas and compete and do well,” he told St Lucia Times. “We are not in the business of sending athletes on a participation ride at that level. We are focused on executing our game plan and making sure we qualify for the Games, and continue our training.”
The team has been training consistently since last year, aiming to peak at this tournament. Many players have also been honing their skills in the National Premier League, with Eleuthere and Lubin boasting impressive records of 18 wins and just two defeats each. Francis, meanwhile, has hit his stride at the perfect time, going 9-1 in the league’s second round.
Wells acknowledged the challenge ahead, with powerhouse teams like the Dominican Republic, whose entire squad trains in Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guyana all vying for qualification.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament, as most nations have had athletes competing in international events or overseas leagues,” he said. “They know the team goal is to try to make sure we qualify for Pan Am, and they have their individual goals for the age groups in which they are competing, as well.”
With over 100 players from 11 territories set to compete, including strong contingents from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago, Saint Lucia’s young stars’ goals are ambitious. With a history of regional success at the youth level and meticulous preparation, they’re determined to give their best.
