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Knight to play professionally in Denmark

by Barbados Today
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Barbados’ table tennis ace Tyrese Knight has earned a one-year professional contract to play for Naetsved Club in Denmark.

The 20-year-old who has been the reigning national number one for the past two years has signed a contract that commences Sunday, September 13, 2020, and concludes Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

Knight told Barbados TODAY he was grateful for the opportunity and even more ecstatic because he is the first Barbadian player in 15 years to sign a professional contract in table tennis.

“I am thankful. It is a good opportunity for me to go and showcase my talent because it is the highest division and I would be playing with the top one hundred players. So this is a good opportunity for me to show that Barbados has talent.

“It is a big deal for me. This was always my dream to play professionally. I have been in a professional setting for two to three years already in Sweden being amongst the top fifty players. So already I know what to expect and what I have to do,” Knight said.

The former Combermere School student is no stranger to playing in Europe as he lived and played in Sweden for two years while pursuing diplomas in Psychology, Mathematics and Biology.

Coached by Trevor Farley, one of the best table tennis players Barbados has produced, Knight has done well so far in his career. He won Caribbean Juniors Under-18 in 2017, was a two-time silver medallist in the Under-21 category and reached the quarterfinals for men’s, all at the regional level.  At the Latin American Junior Championship, Knight reached the quarterfinals and at the Central American and Caribbean Games, he made it into the round of 16. It is not just Denmark that have their eyes on the young talented Barbadian but also Germany.

Knight said that clubs in Germany were also interested him. There is a high possibility the gifted right-hander could leave Denmark and end up in the Western and Central part of Europe to ply his trade.

In pursuit of his professional dreams, the former junior Caribbean champion who is known to be an all-round player has been working closely with his manager Sherdon Pierre to make his professional contract a reality.

According to Pierre, the first division in Denmark has some of the top players in the world and to compete at that level should be a great learning experience for Knight to improve on his game, especially with the Olympic year fast approaching.

“It will be a learning curve for Tyrese because he would be training amongst the top players. It could only benefit him in terms of training and whenever he plays, he would have to be playing at a very top level. This is important especially coming into an Olympic year and the qualifiers being early next year. So he would probably be at his sharpest,”  Pierre said.

He added: “I have known Tyrese for five years now and I brought him to play table tennis with my club in a few competitions and we have always been in contact. I took a keen interest in him because he is one of the top talents in the Caribbean, a very humble guy and he seems to be willing to work a lot harder.”

Pierre credited the Barbados Olympic Association for lending financial support so far in Knight’s venture. He also expressed gratitude for the tremendous support given throughout the process to Knight by Bo Spottog who is the manager for the Naetsved Club in Denmark.

However, Pierre added that additional funding is still needed to assist the young talented player in his pursuit. While in Denmark, Knight will volunteer his time by coaching Pre-Cadet players at the club despite not earning an income from playing or coaching. 

Explaining how a professional contract works in table tennis, Pierre said: “This professional contract, it is his first and normally even if you are a professional, you go to these table tennis-playing countries and you are not paid and you have to find your own finance. But even though you are not receiving any income, all your expenses are paid. So, accommodations are paid, insurance, travel in between and meals.

“By next year based on his performance the phone would be going off. This is a starter year for Tyrese. He is getting the opportunity to be a little more comfortable, whereas he wouldn’t have to be worried about certain things. As I mentioned we are grateful for the assistance from BOA but we are still calling on corporate Barbados, the corporate Caribbean to come on board and support.”

Pierre who operates D’Abadie Youths Table Tennis Club based in his home country Trinidad and Tobago is also confident that a few other Caribbean players would join Knight in signing professional contracts.

The league is close-knit with only 18 teams in the division. Also, once the finance allows it, Pierre explained that Knight whom he described as agile and quick on his feet would be able to participate in international opens and that would help him to improve on his world ranking. 

President of the Barbados Table Tennis Association Dale Rudder said Knight’s professional contract was a huge step in the right direction and testament that hard work eventually pays off.

“This young determined player has shown the dedication needed to get a foot into and perform at the next level. He has been portraying his outstanding qualities since the ITTF World Cadet Challenge Championships held here back in 2014 and was awarded a special prize for his performance against U-15 champion players from all continents of the World.

“I know sometimes I may come across like a stuck record to Tyrese and many of our younger players when I keep stressing that every successful athlete has a back story of putting in the extra hard work and persevering against all odds.

“Coming from a country not traditionally linked with global table tennis dominance makes that path even more challenging but I’m sure that once Tyrese continues to work even harder and is supported on a national level with all that’s required to prepare,  perform and stay competitive at the top level, Barbados may very well be witnessing the rising of a potential regional and continental champion, a world beater, “ Rudder said.

morissalinday@barbadostoday.bb

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