By Akeem Greene
Olympic-bound national table tennis player, Chelsea Edghill, has secured a one-year sponsorship deal with the Guyana Lottery Company (GLC). The partnership is intended to aid her preparation for the July-August showpiece in Tokyo.
The GLC made the announcement on Friday, at its Lamaha Street headquarters.
Let’s Bet Sports Brand Ambassador, Rawle Toney, explained it is a substantial figure in sponsorship and will cater for branding and the acquisition of training apparatus.
According to Toney, the company and athlete were in discussions to form a partnership even before the announcement of her qualification to the Olympic Games. The company hopes this additional support will allow Edghill to achieve her best.
“The only requirement is for her to continue being a great and exemplary athlete. She would have excelled as a junior athlete not only in Guyana but Latin American and the Caribbean,” Toney expressed.
Edghill was granted a spot at the Games through the tripartite system, which only has two spots worldwide for table tennis, one male and female, and the Brand Ambassador felt such an accomplishment is testimony to her high level of skill and character.
GLC’s General Manager, Tracey Lewis, said it is special honour to align with the elite athlete, who is a female role model for young athletes. Lewis added that the company will be “standing behind” Edghill in the journey to the Olympics.
The support will also cover the 23-year-old in preparation for World Championships in Houston, Texas, from November 23-29, and on her return to Portugal, where she plays professionally.
Edghill is the first athlete to be sponsored by the company.
She expressed it was an amazing feeling after she made an emotional appeal just weeks ago for more of corporate Guyana to support sport.
“It is a great feeling to be backed by such a company and it great to be able to continue my journey in the sport and to be given the opportunity to excel,” the former Bishops’ High School student stated.
President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe, indicated that this is great support being shown for one of the country’s elite athletes, whom he firmly believes has a bright future.
The Guyana Olympic Association has asked Munroe to discuss with Edghill a high-performance programme she can enter to prepare for the Olympic Games, and that is expected to be revealed on Saturday.