Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter
Yvonne Foster in action at the national championships last week. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
"GOD HAS always been a dominant force in my life and his presence has attributed to my immense success over the years," so says 14-year-old Yvonne Foster, the 2007 national women's table tennis champion.
Cool, calm and collected during an interview with the Sunday Gleaner, Foster said she began playing table tennis at the age of six.
"I had moved to Pembroke Hall with my family and was passing the community centre," she said.
"I was curious to find out what went on over there."
In Jamaica we often say curiosity kills the cat but this cat is still alive and creating an enviable track record on the table tennis circuit.
Foster met Clive 'Sir G' Grossett at that Pembroke Hall community centre and he informed Foster and her friends about the activities at the centre, one of which included table tennis.
Foster was instantly interested to learn the game and seized the opportunity to attend training on Saturdays. The rest is history.
rudiments of the game
Grossett assisted Foster during her initiation process by teaching her the rudiments of the game. Since then, he has continued as her coach.
From her debut at the Trophy City tournament where she won the Under-9 championship in 2000, Foster has run off an impressive winning streak over the past seven years. At only 14, she has participated in more than 27 tournaments both here and abroad and has claimed many titles.
In this year alone, she has participated in the Inter-Secondary Schools Association (ISSA)-sponsored Schools League, the Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) Spring Open, the 47th Caribbean Senior Table Tennis Championships and more recently the JTTA, three-day annual National Championships which ended at the G.C. Foster College last Sunday.
Foster was again successful at the tournament winning her third consecutive national title.
Foster's parents, Dawn and Patrick, and sibling, Matthew, are a tower of strength for this blossoming table tennis star.
"My family is pleased with my development and success in table tennis. They continue to offer me support and guidance in my pursuit with the game," she said.
"My mommy is always at my tournaments. It is rare that she is unable to attend any of my events. My father has even accompanied me to the United States Open," she said.
A former student of the St. Jude's Primary and now a budding fourth former at Meadowbrook High, Foster continues to excel not only in sports but also academically. She did exceptionally well in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) with an overall average of 85 per cent she practices for ten hours each week, she has remained focussed on her studies and has maintained a good average in her studies at Meadowbrook.
"I do not allow my extra-curricular activities to create a negative impact on my education. I manage my time well. I do all my homework and read over my notes after school," Foster said.
academics
Grossett said since Foster started attending Meadowbrook, her training has been regulated to accommodate her academics.
"There is no point in her being the best player when her education is not of a high standard," he said.
Foster corroborated his story by adding that in order to accommodate her assignments she attends training late or leaves early to complete her studies. Foster is currently interested in the sciences and thoroughly enjoys mathematics, physics and biology. She plans to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon and intends to study at the University of the West Indies (UWI) after completing sixth form at Meadowbrook.
Despite her apparent hectic schedule, the petite teenager still manages to engage in other activities. She loves to cook - especially macaroni and cheese - and bake cakes. She recently experimented in baking a pizza.
Foster also enjoys watching movies of which she prefers action movies and family movies. She particularly likes the action movie Transporter 2.
what's next
So what's next for the humble and eloquent table tennis star?
Foster has her sights set on performing at the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships to be held in Jamaica next year.
In preparation for that competition she intends to improve her top-spin and backhand top-spins as well as her crouching positions and timing the delivery of the ball.
"Yvonne stands out when she is competing," Grossett said.
"When she was much younger I would work with her at the tournament and persons seeing her impeccable performances would say that if Yvonne continued to excel in the game she would represent Jamaica," he said.
"As the coach I knew that it was possible for her to be as successful as she is now because she loves the game. She is determined and takes pride in what she does."
Foster has plans to continue playing table tennis for as long as it is feasible and also promote women's table tennis. She noted that not enough attention was placed on developing women's table tennis in Jamaica.
