Western Bureau:Montego Bay is poised to play host to top-flight table tennis today as a host of top local players are slated to descend on the western city for the 2009 St James Table Tennis Classic, at Montego Bay Cricket Club, starting at 10 a.m.

"This is part of the process of rebuilding table tennis here in St James," said Donovan James, vice-president of the St James Table Tennis Association (StJTTA). "St James was once the top parish in local table tennis and we are trying to bring the sports back to that level."

According to James, most of the top players in the island will be in attendance.

singles champion

"We already have a confirmation from former national singles champion Joseph Dibbs that he will be here on Saturday," said James. "The national female champion Yvonne Foster will also be here."

The JTTA held a function last night at the Jamaica Grandiosa Hotel in Montego Bay, where they handed over a table-tennis board to Corinaldi Avenue Primary School, one of the emerging schools in the parish.

"The JTTA had made the promise to the school some time ago," said James. "Our aim here in St James is to get as much youngsters as possible to start playing the game."

At the completion of the St James Classic, the JTTA will also be making a gift of two table-tennis boards to the Montego Bay Cricket Club, which has been hosting most of the tournaments played in the parish.