£15,000 performance plan

THE island's fastest-developing sport has signed its biggest sponsorship deal. The Guernsey Table Tennis Association is to benefit from a three-year £15,000 deal with Deutsche Bank as the GTTA aim to capitalise on a massive upsurge of interest in the game at junior level.

'It is just what we needed,' said GTTA vice-president Phil Hunkin.

'The establishment of the Deutsche Bank Performance Plan has come at just the right time for table tennis as under Derek Webb's leadership, table tennis in Guernsey is thriving and we have a lot of young people taking up the sport for the first time.

'The impact of this sponsorship is that we have been able to review our development plans and establish an infrastructure to guarantee we achieve our aims and objectives,' Hunkin added.

The Performance Plan includes the following initiatives:

* Structured development for juniors to create high potential and elite squads, development groups and training at beginner level.

* The establishment of performance sessions for invited juniors with exceptional talent or recognised potential.

* Support of costs of bringing coaches to the island for player and/or coach and/or umpire education.

* Training for local coaches to achieve International Table Tennis Association qualifications necessary to develop the sport in Guernsey.

* Provision of equipment and kit to support and assist with the coaching activities of the club.

* Regular Deutsche Bank junior tournaments for age groups ranging from under-11s to under-18s.

Webb said the sport was 'really buzzing'.

'Table tennis is growing rapidly in popularity and participation has doubled over the past three years with more than 100 juniors playing regularly.

'The Deutsche Bank Performance Plan means we are well placed to raise the profile of Guernsey players in the national arena.'