Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer

WHEN JOSEPH Dibbs' reign as Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) president ends in June 2007, there should be a renewed interest in the sport here, especially among youngsters.

Dibbs, who on Saturday night defeated Colette Palmer 18-8 on votes at the JTTA's annual general meeting, held in the boardroom of the Jamaica National Building Society Belmont Road offices en route to the presidency, shared his vision for table tennis in Jamaica with The Gleaner.

"I would definitely want to see a vibrant programme in all the schools in Jamaica - preparatory, primary and high - a programme where the person or persons responsible for sports in schools will have the knowledge of table tennis and be able to do basic coaching. I want to see it being integrated into physical education classes, like cricket, track and field and football. In that way, the sport would grow," Dibbs said.

Apart from wanting to see vast improvements at the school level, Dibbs said that he hopes to get corporate Jamaica to play a more integral role in the development of the sport. One way he proposes to do this is by getting television coverage at events like the National Trials, which would help them to attract sponsors.

EXPECTATIONS

"The sport of table tennis is growing here and I expect it to get better," said Dibbs, making reference to the fact that national player Nigel Webb is perfecting his art in China, a country that has sent two coaches in Hu Chuangmin and Xue Engie to help with the development of the sport locally.

"One goal is to see Jamaica as the top table tennis team in the region and possibly beyond, and I believe it can be accomplished," said the new president, who succeeds Peter Moo-Young.

During his two-year stay in office, Dibbs will be assisted by Colette Palmer, first vice-president; Michael Morris, second vice-president; Samuel Lamount, assistant general secretary; Oraine Phoenix, assistant treasurer; Justin Allen, general secretary; and Maureen Johnson, treasurer.