RIDING a wave of euphoria after winning Division Five of the Table Tennis World Championships in Japan earlier this year, Godfrey Lothian, the president of the local association, is excited at the prospect of seeing Jamaica competing at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) is sending an eight-member team consisting of four females and as many males to the Games which is slated to run from July 23 to August 3.

All eight players are set to participate in Singles, Doubles, Mixed and Team competitions.

“Of course, I’m excited. We have some good players and we should do well,” Lothian said during the official announcement of the overall Jamaican delegation, at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday.

“I’m overjoyed and I am elated to see what is happening in table tennis. We have a very good delegation going to the Commonwealth Games. We have four males and four females and it’s the first time this has happened.”

The JTTA head said success in Japan not only increased the country’s ranking, but lifted the team’s profile, resulting in positive feedback in terms of player interest and sponsorship support.

“We went to the World Championships in Japan and we won the fifth division so we are world champions in that division. Jamaica jumped to number (Division Three) by winning Division Five.

“By winning that division, people the world over have now recognised that Jamaica is a force in table tennis. It’s a paradigm shift from where it was. Things are really happening and corporate Jamaica is talking to us. Things have changed tremendously. We are about to sign an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with the GC Foster College, so things are happening for Jamaica Table Tennis Association,” beamed Lothian as he spoke to the Sunday Observer.

Ja table tennis squad — Christopher Marsh, Simon Tomlinson, Kane Watson, Dale Parham, Shenique Clare, Yvonne Foster, Kaydian Carney, Dadrian Lewis

— Sanjay Myers