From Imbaimadai to Colombia; Miguel Wong shares his table tennis trip

By Jemima Holmes

From a temporary plywood table to a year of grueling training in Germany; Miguel Wong is eager to make his mark on the first Junior Pan American game of all time.

The national table tennis player, who now works hard in his artisans on a daily basis, has been born from a humble beginning in one of Guyana’s mining areas, Cuyuni-Mazarun (Area 7).

Both me and my brothers were born and raised in the small village of Imbaimadai in the Cuyuni-Mazarun area. We came to Georgetown to get a better education at Maes School, we would stay in Georgetown until the end of the semester, and then return to Wong’s relatives.

However, before the 20-year-old athlete got excited about his current love of table tennis, he practiced a few other sports.

Every year during August, we traveled to inter-village games consisting of 7-8 villages. My father was the goalkeeper of the football team at the time. He was also a volleyball captain, and I would go to his practice and play volleyball and football with all the children in the community, he said as he pondered his beginnings in the sports world.

So I was pretty active from a young age and I played sports.

When he got into elementary Maes schools in Subryanville, Georgetown, he was introduced to sports. This institution is responsible for bringing many young players into the sport, some of whom are among Guyana’s national and international representatives.

I used to play during my lunch breaks and after school. At first it was just mostly the passage of time when I was waiting for my parents to collect me then later it became an excuse to stay later after school, the athlete shared openly.

His father, who confessed his passion for the game, took the necessary steps to ensure he could practice at home as well.

My dad made plywood a temporary table and two tripods that we played in the afternoons at home.

A little later, coach Dwain Dick invited the young Titans to a table tennis club, where he is still training.

Wong related, I played the first competition, which was inter-school games. There I was introduced to coach Dwain Dick, who invited me to his club, and then the rest was history.

Currently, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) 710 points with 168 points for men’s seniors, the 20-year-old can be considered one of the best sports products in the country.

Such an achievement would bring great expectations, but Wong, who is up to the challenge, has nothing but a passion for sports.

From the day I joined the table tennis club, I dedicated myself to sports.

The table tennis player went on to say: For those who have been around me from the beginning, one can witness the sacrifices of the work I have done on the table and on the table maintaining all the late night exercises and the early morning fitness of the national park has taken me to this point.

Although the young man had an ardent passion for sports, not all were fairy tales during his journey; he had to overcome many obstacles, usually at times mentally.

My biggest challenge so far has been to stay disciplined and committed to the sport. There was a time when I was passive.

Due to the poor influence of the people around me, Wong unfortunately admitted.

He continued to share on the subject, saying: It was a very, very bumpy road. I wanted to stop and put the racket down many times because I wasn’t sure where I was going in the sport.

Most recently, on his trip to Germany in 2019, which was eventually extended to a stay of about a year due to the deadlocks of the coronavirus pandemic, Wong received valuable support from Guyana.

Beacons Caf and Kings Jewelery are among those who have consistently supported the table tennis player on his journey, for which Wong is quite grateful.
For many athletes, any kind of sponsorship helps free up a huge amount of luggage. for example, student athletes have equipment, training, a gym, nutrition, and transportation costs that they would normally have to pay their parents, the athlete explained.

He added: So, with corporate sponsorship, athletes get more marketability. They get better education, be it abroad or locally. They get to participate in more competitions, they need the necessary equipment to help develop them, and the list goes on.

After examining his eligibility for the Junior Pan American Games, scheduled for November 24-December 5 in Cali, Colombia, Elevated Wong said this:
I am very proud to represent Guyana, the first ever Pan Am Am ​​Games competition. This means that I will be the first junior games, table tennis players, to be qualified for these games, which is an honor.

Once again, this significant event is not just a representation of a 20-year-old. Wong wants to make a positive rating in the tournament not only to win a medal, but also to further improve his competitiveness.

I want to compete with the best juniors in Pan Americas, test my level and measure my progress over the years. Also, because it’s the first of its kind at the junior level, which is one reason I’m looking forward to the event, he said.

A table tennis player hoping to have the opportunity to train abroad in preparation for the event shared his intentions for the tournament, saying: If I can produce great results in this tournament, it will definitely take my career to a new level. It was part of my development as a player.

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