The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association (SVGTA) has officially concluded a comprehensive six-day Tennis Development Clinic, bringing international expertise to local players, coaches, and school students across the country.
Held from October 13 to October 18, 2026, the initiative was conducted in collaboration with three visiting Canadian tennis professionals: Lionel Eli, Sasha Gomelyuk, and Arthur Searles.
The clinic covered all levels of the sport, ranging from introductory grassroots programs to high-performance training tailored for elite youth athletes. The visiting professionals delivered specialized coaching for junior competitors across the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 age brackets, focusing on refined technique, court movement, tactical strategy, and match preparation. Dedicated sessions were also hosted for adult players to foster participation across every age group.
Beyond court training, the clinic extended directly into classrooms with sessions at Calliaqua Anglican School and Fairhall Government School as part of the SVGTA’s ongoing schools initiative. Demonstrating a strong commitment to accessibility, the association organized a specialized session for students with special educational needs.
The week also featured structured engagement with parents of junior players to outline long-term player development pathways and highlight the essential role of parental support in a young athlete’s journey.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, SVGTA President Dr. Preye Griffith hailed the week as a major milestone for local tennis.
“To have three international professionals invest six days in our players, our schools, and our tennis community is something we do not take for granted,” Griffith stated, noting that response from parents, players, and schools has been overwhelmingly positive.
In addition to providing instruction, Eli and his coaching team donated new tennis nets to replace the association’s old equipment, which was beyond repair.
The SVGTA acknowledged its ongoing relationships with key institutional partners, including the National Sports Council, the Ministry of Education, the Division of Sports & Physical Activities, and the National Lotteries Authority, reaffirming its commitment to advancing tennis across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
