Barbados’ top road tennis players Sheldene Walrond and Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith are singing the praises of the government for levelling the playing field where both men and women will receive BDS$20, 000 cash in the June 12 Barbados Road Tennis Open tournament.
The reigning number one female player Walrond who will represent the constituency of St. James South in the island-wide community-based event put on by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment said this was a great way to get more women playing.
“I feel really good this tournament is taking place because it has been two years since COVID came into play and there was no sport. So, I feel great that road tennis is actually one of the first sports up and running since COVID has eased off to an extent.
“I feel very excited because the table has been levelled because normally the men would play for more than the females, so that gives more encouragement to the females coming to play the sport. They will see it is now balanced and that the same way the men are allowed to get, women can get as well,” she said.
In addition to the BDS$20, 000 up for grabs, second place will earn BDS$15, 000, third position BDS$10, 000 and fourth BDS5, 000.
Walrond shared that normally she does not train extensively for tournaments but rather goes into them once she has the time. However, with this amount of money at stake, she is training hard to increase her chances of winning the tournament.
She believes with this amount of money being invested in road tennis, it is a further incentive to get more women involved in Barbados’ indigenous sport. “I think the attraction will come where since it is on a level playing field where men and women are receiving the same amount of money, I think it will draw out a lot more females to come and participate in the sport.”
She added: “I feel really grateful to the government for their continued support of road tennis and also getting the interest of females to play the sport.”
National number one Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith has always championed for women to receive equal pay in road tennis and now that it has come to fruition, he is ecstatic. He also sees the financial potential for Barbados where road tennis is concerned.
Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith
“This type of prize money being offered particularly for the women should be further motivation to get them involved. With a purse like this, persons from around the Caribbean region are going to want to get involved and participate in this Barbados Road Tennis Tournament. I know it could also bring revenue for us internationally as well and not only locally.
“I have always been one of those persons who advocated yes, the women should also be paid the same amount of money as the men because I know the amount of work they put in as well and I train personally with Sheldene Walrond, our number one female player. So, I know the kind of work that she puts in, so I believe she should be paid just as much as me because we do put in the main amount of work,” Griffith explained.
The star player who will represent St. Michael North West and is no stranger to being involved in high stakes competitions, revealed that being away from competitive action for so long he feels a sense of nervousness heading into the event. However, he promised to be ready when the competition starts.
He is also happy to be back on court after two years. “No words could explain how I feel right now at this present moment. I have not been in active competition now for the past two years because of the pandemic. So, to see that there is this magnitude of the tournament for me to exhibit my skills once again is awesome,” he said.
(morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb)
