THE JAMAICA Table Tennis Association's Tri-nation tournament involving Jamaica, Barbados and an England Select team takes place at the University of Technology's auditorium today and based on the credentials of the visitors, the action should be exciting from start to finish.
Action in the round-robin contest, gets under way at 3.30 p.m. with Caribbean champions Barbados taking on England Select, that match wil be followed by the opening ceremony, and then it will Jamaica versus Barbados at 5:00 followed by Jamaica versus England Select at 6:15.
Barbados will be represented by Caribbean champion Trevor Farley, former champion Robert Roberts and Abbie Clarke, England Select by Gareth Hurbert - the Jamaican-born England No. 2 and member of the gold medal winning team at this year's Commonwealth Games, Darren Blake - a member of England's team to the 1997 Commonwealth Games, and Andrew Rushton - the 19-year-old England No. 6 and Under 21 champion, and Jamaica by national champion Michael Hyatt, Peter Moo Young, Nigel Webb and Darryl Strachan.
The big match of the contest promises to be between Barbados and England Select. A lot of interest, however, will be centred on Jamaica's performance - particularly in the match against Barbados.
In the Caribbean Championships in Puerto Rico, Jamaica, who won only one set and finished last in the men's team event. They lost 3-0 to Barbados and they are gunning for revenge and they believe they can succeed.
One reason for the confidence is that unlike the Caribbean Championships, Jamaica will be at full strength with the inclusion of Hyatt.
The experienced Hyatt was not available for the regional championships, he is available this time, and according to reports, he is in the pink of form.
The four Jamaicans in action today are the members of the squad selected for the CAC Games in El Salvador later this month and, as JTTA executive Keith Garvey said yesterday, the Tri-nation event should provide them with top-class match practice.
The visiting players will also participate in the Jamaica National Building Society's tournament tomorrow at the same venue.
