Shameful St Louis axing completes long-term plot

Do not be fooled. The shameful axing of local table tennis great Dexter St Louis did not happen, as the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association (T&TTTA) would have you believe, at last Saturday's management meeting.

That meeting was merely the final act in a long-term plot engineered by a key personality in the sport here in T&T.

The T&TTTA press release, issued on Sunday by president Stanley Hunte to announce the team for the July 3-8 Caribbean Championships in Martinique, stated: ?a significant majority were of the view that emphasis must now be placed on our youth?.

That was the lame attempt to justify the exclusion of the country's best-ever player. St Louis is 47 years old, so it's the easiest factor to point to.

Let's deal with the important facts now.

St Louis is, by far, T&T's best player. So, this axing bears no similarity to Shivnarine Chanderpaul's. With the 40-year-old Guyanese batting great struggling, he lost his place to a younger player. The decision, whether you agree with it or not, was made in an attempt to give West Indies the best possible chance of having a successful series against Australia.

St Louis is not struggling! And there is no T&T player?young, old or in between?who can genuinely contend with the France-based professional for selection on any team.

I am part of the T&T table tennis fraternity, playing on the local circuit since 1981. I have seen all the top players play on numerous occasions, so my declaration that there is no other T&T player even close to St Louis' standard is made without fear of contradiction.

Two years ago, there was a failed attempt to keep St Louis off the Caribbean Championship team. Age and finances were the reasons offered at the time. The southpaw responded by winning his fifth regional men's singles title without dropping a single game.

St Louis followed up on that 2013 Caribbean Championship success in St Lucia by reaching the quarterfinal round at the 2014 Latin American Championships, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Reaching the last eight at this tournament is a huge achievement for a player from the English-speaking Caribbean.

In November, St Louis combined with Curtis Humphreys for men's doubles bronze at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, in Mexico.

The Latin American and CAC Games successes came at the age of 46. Is this the same St Louis the T&TTTA has dropped because he is 47?

Sadly, partisan interests have often taken precedence over the greater good in T&T table tennis. So, in case anyone suspects I am championing some petty club agenda, let me make it absolutely clear that in my 34 years in the sport, I have never been Dexter St Louis' teammate.

We played for rival clubs in the 1980s, and he whipped me in a National Classified Championship boys' singles final. And in a National Secondary Schools Championship team final, he was part of the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive team that won, and I was a member of the beaten Queen's Royal College outfit.

Yes, like every other T&T player who has come up against St Louis, I know what it's like to look across the table and know that I'm not in the same league as my opponent.

There's no shame in not matching up to St Louis. He's just that good. For the players bidding to make a T&T team, the two-time Olympian ought to be the standard, and getting selected at his expense cannot be cause for celebration.

Humphreys, Yuvraaj Dookram, Aaron Wilson and Arun Roopnarine are the players named by the T&TTTA for the Caribbean Championship men's team event.

According to the pecking order in the TTTTA press release, Roopnarine is the player who benefitted from St Louis' exclusion.

That brings me to a pertinent question. How was St Louis dropped in the first place? He had earlier been informed by one of the team coaches, Reeza Burke that he had been selected. The professional that he is, St Louis began serious preparations for the Championships. Unfortunately, the administrators are not of similar ilk.

It was actually a positive move to have coaches select the national team. For many years I have had a problem with parental influence when it comes to selection.

Aleena Edwards, Catherine Spicer, Brittany Joseph and Linda Partap-Boodhan are the T&T women for the Caribbean Championships. Spicer's father, Simon Spicer is a T&TTTA vice president, while Joseph's father, Dave Joseph is a former public relations officer.

On the men's side, Roopnarine's father, Bob Roopnarine is a former T&TTTA secretary, serving up until January this year, but is still very very influential.

I have openly expressed my displeasure with the inclusion of parents on association selection committees. So, when I realised coaches were picking the team, and that the national coaches, Burke and Ian Joseph, are not parents of any of the contenders for selection, I was pleased.

It seemed a bit strange, though, that president Hunte was apparently a third member of that selection group. I can't imagine Stephen Hart having to consult TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee on his final Soca Warriors squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Anyway, that's another issue.

My concern is that the ?coaches' pick? system is nullified when you are required to go to the management committee for ratification. It takes you back to square one, since the very parents and/or their allies get to pick the team.

The coaches that were entrusted with the responsibility of coming up with the best possible team to represent the country, based on their technical knowledge, have essentially been told by the T&TTTA you didn't do a good enough job.

The result is T&T will go into the Caribbean Championships without a player capable of leading and inspiring the team to a multiple-gold medal performance. St Louis has done it before, and can certainly do it again.

Did I mention that another France-based pro and five-time Caribbean singles champion is also off the team? Disgusted with the treatment of her step-father, the country's best-ever female player, Rheann Chung declined selection.

Sadly, parental influence has prevailed. This is what happens when there is weak leadership of the T&TTTA.

Mr Brent Sancho, you are well known for your indignation when it comes to injustice in local football. You are now the Minister of Sport, all sports, in T&T. Please look into this abuse that has been meted out to a fellow-elite sportsman.

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Top Trinidad and Tobago swimmer George Bovell will be looking to fine tune his speed and race strategies when he competes in the Sette Colli competition in Rome, Italy, from tomorrow through Sunday.

Bovell headed to Rome yesterday and is looking to build on his performances from the Belgian Open and the Trofeo Citta di Roma.

?This will be another opportunity to master how I am able to react properly to each unique race situation. Right now the only goal is to be competitive and improve upon my performances this year so far.

?For some perspective I am more focused on what I am doing right and wrong rather than my times, This year I am taking it back to basics to build a bigger foundation on which to excel to new heights next year, the Olympic year,? Bovell told The Express.

The 31-year-old Sportsman of the Year said he was still in his hard training phase but starting to see ?progress and I am beginning to transition into racing mode for the summer.? He will race the Men's 50 metres free tomorrow then the 50m breaststroke on Saturday.

Bovell swam to his first gold medal of the 2015 season when he won the men's 50m freestyle final at the 21st Tropheo Citta di Roma, at the Palace of Swimming Pool, Salaria Sport Village, Rome last week.

The ADN Swim Project Italian club swimmer touched the wall in 22.70 seconds from lane six to finish ahead of 24-year-old Spanish champion Markel Alberdi, who clocked 22.74 from lane three while Russian Lagunov Evgent, the second of three ADN swimmers in the final, got bronze in 22.80 from lane four.

Bovell, who is preparing for next month's Pan American Games in Canada and the FINA World Aquatic Championship in Kazan a month later, got his first silver when he set a national record in the 50m breaststroke in 27.65 to trail Greek swimmer Loannis Karpouzlis (27.61) with Belgium's Jonas Coreelman took third in 28.75.

A day later, he earned silver in the 50m backstroke in 25.70 seconds behind his AND clubmate, Francois Heersbrandt, who won in 25.50 seconds while Greece's Michail Kondizas took bronze in 25.81.

Bovell's next assignments after the Setti Colli are the Trofeo Rossini (June 19-21), the Treviso Swim Cup (June 26-27) and the French Open Championship in Vichy (July 4-5).

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International Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is now an owner of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel cricket team.

Khan’s, business partner Juhi Chawla, a top-draw Bollywood actress, and Chawla’s husband Jay Mehta have bought a majority stake in the franchise valued at some US$2.5 million (TT$15.9 million), as part of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Khan, with a net worth of close to US$600 million, and Chawla are co-owners of the popular Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), through parent company Red Chillies Entertainment.

Khan has acted in approximately 80 Bollywood movies in over 25 years. In addition to being an award winning actress, Chawla is a film producer, a philantrophist, and the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984.

Speaking on the recent acquisition, “King Khan” as he is known in India, was brimming with pride and is keen to make an impact in the Caribbean in this new venture

“This is in line with our vision to expand globally. We are thrilled to become part of the cricketing tradition of Trinidad and Tobago,” Khan told the Times of India. “The passion for franchise cricket in the Caribbean is evident with the success of CPL and we hope to bring all the best practices of KKR to the T&T franchise.”

Red Steel captain Dwayne Bravo, known for his supreme athleticism, energy and celebration dance moves on the field, says he can’t wait for Khan to arrive in Trinidad.

Bravo, similar to Khan, has also branched out from his niche and has produced soca, dancehall and Indian singles and recently shot a video alongside Nisha B for his song “Chalo! Chalo!”

He believes Khan’s presence will give a significant boost to this country’s global image.

“The country itself will love an owner of that stature to be a part of (CPL). It shows the respect he has for our culture and the Red Steel,” Bravo said.

The ex-West Indies one-day captain has been playing in the IPL since 2008 and says he has formed a relationship with the KKR boss. “I know him (Khan) fairly well and whenever we meet we have a dance off. I was on the phone last night with his management team and we were having some fun that I’m going to have more dance off against him now,” he said.

Recognised globally as one of Asia’s sex symbols, Khan’s influence has permeated outside the movie industry and in 2008 was named as one of the 50 most powerful persons in the world by Newsweek.

Khan’s power move into the CPL follows that of Hero MotoCorp, the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, becoming the new title sponsor of the CPL. Based in New Delhi, India, Hero was valued in 2013 at US$5.7 billion.

Bravo believes it is no coincidence that Indians are investing in the Caribbean as the regional players have always been embraced by cricket fans in the sub-continent because of their panache.

He said, “If you look at the IPL and what the West Indian players have done, we have dominated more than any other country. We feel a different type of love from the Indian fans with our flair and style. We all have our part to play and it’s good to see Indian investors here. He’s in the right place, the right country, it’s a party atmosphere here with a mixed culture,” he declared.

News of Khan’s ownership stake in the Red Steel has not only cricket fans buzzing but also local women who are eager to meet the iconic figure on just his third visit to Trinidad.

He came to these shores for the first time in 1999 where he performed two shows - Skinner Park (San Fernando) and Queen’s Park Savannah (Port-of-Spain) - before returning again in 2007 to meet his adoring fans.

Anthony Maharaj, who was executive producer for the 2010 film, Dulha Mil Gaya which starred Khan and was shot in Trinidad, Tobago and India, yesterday described Khan’s presence in Red Steel as “wonderful for Trinidad.”

“It’s not the first time he’s been in Trinidad. The commitment he has to cricket, this is wonderful...He’s stood behind Kolkata Knight Riders in India and has a fondness for West Indian cricketers,” Maharaj explained.

The promoter described Khan as “undoubtably the most celebrated, most popular Indian actor for decades” and believes there will be a tremendous interest locally for him.

“He will bring out the people. It’s going to be packed (for the games). Many people who might not have come out to the cricket from the Indian diaspora will come out just to get a glimpse of him,” he added.

Maharaj, speaking of his interaction with Khan during the 2007 filming of Dulha Mil Gaya, spoke highly of the mega star’s humility and friendliness.

“He is very approachable, charismatic and very down-to-earth,” he revealed.

Minister of Sport Brent Sancho was also buoyed by the news, stating: “It’s always good to get that celebrity buy-in and power into sport to bring that glitz and glamour. Having him come on board not only bodes well for sport in this country but also the tourism aspect.”

The Trinidad and Tobago Government has come to an agreement with the CPL to host both semi-finals and the Grand Final of this year’s competition at the Queen’s Park Oval.

It was the same in 2013, and Minister of Tourism Gerald Hadeed noted that the direct impact on the economy of the three main matches of the annual tournament being here was US$21 million. He predicted that figure to double in 2015.

Indian High Commissioner Gauri Shankar Gupta was elated over the development telling Newsday, “It is good news that Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan has bought Caribbean Premier League team Trinidad and Tobago, joining Mark Wahlberg and Gerard Butler.”

Wahlberg and Butler, Hollywood blockbuster stars, are respective shareholders in Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs.

The Indian High Commissioner added, “It just goes to show how closely associated we (TT and India) are with each other. It will also strengthen our union bringing us closer in the future.”

And Mastana Bahar producer, Khayal Mohammed, feels Khan’s involvement in the CPL will certainly bring excitement to the game once more.

“The good news is he (Khan) has also taken over the TT Red Steel where a lot of young people will be involved in this game,” Mohammed told Newsday. “Now the (Queen’s Park) Oval or any other venue in the Caribbean will be packed to capacity because of Shah Rukh’s presence. I think there will be a renewed passion for the game of cricket from the Trinidadians who follow him through Bollywood movies.”

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Trinidad and Tobago’s lone professional player and eight-time National Men’s squash champion, Colin Ramasra, has decided to call it quits on his illustrious career which spanned approximately 22 years.

The 31-year-old athlete made the shocking revelation yesterday just weeks ahead of this year’s National Senior Squash Championships, where he would have once again been in defence of his Men’s title. The three-time St Lucia Open champ has been competing on the local circuit since the age of 10 and turned pro in 2010. During his 22-year career, the Petrotrin player travelled the globe vying for honours at the highest competitive level, among the world’s top-ranked athletes.

On his retirement, the 2010 Cayman Islands Open winner revealed, “I just feel it’s the right time. I’m still number one in Trinidad as a National champion and I’m happy to be leaving the sport on top. Since the Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games last year, I’ve hardly been training. The desire is not as strong as it was to compete now. After going through all that I went through last year, I somewhat lost the motivation. It’s time for a different aspect of life for me.”

Ramasra backed up his decision to retire by stating that he had dedicated his entire life to squash. He expressed elation with the multiple opportunities presented to him representing TT across the globe and was pleased to have been the first person in local squash history to go professional and put TT on the map. His highest placing on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) world ranking was 148.

“I have achieved most of the goals that I have set out to professionally so I’m comfortable with my decision. I definitely want to continue doing some coaching and still be involved with squash locally,” he added.

When asked what he considers to be the highest and lowest points of his career, the nine-time Junior National champion indicated that winning gold at the Montreal Open in Canada back in 2007 was indeed a major achievement. However, like many other local athletes, Ramasra’s biggest obstacle was funding. He noted that sports such as squash which is not high profile in TT, is difficult to get sponsored.

Ramasra thanked all those who worked with and alongside him throughout his 22-year campaign, declaring: “Squash has been such an important part of my life since first representing Trinidad and Tobago in 1993 at the Caribbean Junior Championships in Guyana. I am honoured to have represented TT in squash for the past 22 years all over the world. I have had some truly amazing experiences competing locally, regionally and internationally. I would like to thank the Ministry of Sport, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, the Trinidad and Tobago Squash Association as well as my sponsors. I would like to thank the media for all their years of coverage of squash. Personally I would like to thank my family, friends and girlfriend for all their support throughout my career. I would also like to thank my home club the Pointe-a-Pierre Staff Club and everyone at Pointe-a-Pierre for all their support and encouragement throughout my career.”



Colin Ramasra Career Highlights:

- Nine-time National Junior champion (1993-2001)

- Eight-time Men’s National champion (2002-2014) *No Nationals in 2003/ 2004; Winner in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 (Forced to withdraw from 2008 final due to injury)

- Two-time T&T Open champion (2008 and 2010 – the last T&T Open)

- Three-time St Lucia Open champion ( 2012-2014) Only time in history a player won three times

- 2010 Cayman Open champion (only Caribbean player to ever win this title )

- Petrotrin Caribbean Open champion 2013

- Lutchmeesingh Transport Caribbean Invitational champion 2011

- Montreal Open champion 2007

- Harrow Holland Series Event champion 2010

- CAC Games 2010 – Silver medal in Mixed Doubles with Kerrie Sample

- Two-time Caribbean Men’s runner up (CASA) 2007 and 2009

- Two-time Southern Caribbean Men’s runner up 2006 and 2008

- Three-time Commonwealth Games participant (2006, 2010, 2014) Best finish 19th in 2010 – highest finish by a Caribbean male

- Three-time CAC Games participant (2006, 2010, 2014)

- T&T’s first and only medal at a multi sport games

- Winner of every tournament held in Trinidad at some point (South Closed, South Opens, Carnival Squash Event, Graded Events etc )

- Three-time South Open Champ 2010, 2011, 2012.

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