France-based pro Dexter St Louis is eagerly anticipating the March 25-April 1 World Team Table Tennis Championships, in Dortmund, Germany. St Louis and home-based players Curtis Humphreys and Terell Abbott will represent Trinidad and Tobago in the men's team event.

T&T last competed in a World Championship team competition in 1993, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The men's team--St Louis and the Christopher brothers, Nigel and Ian--finished 42nd, while the women--Verna Edwards and Marilyn Lewis--were 56th.

St Louis told the Express the goal for the T&T men's team in Dortmund is improvement on the Gothenburg showing 19 years ago.

"With no target, this can slowly become just another tour, which it should not be. If we're to show improvement, we would like to come higher than 42nd. We have to show we're at least at the same level as back then. So, at least top 50. Today, top 50 is a little tougher than in 1993."

France-based player Rheann Chung, Aleena Edwards and Catherine Spicer will wear T&T colours in the women's team event, in Dortmund. Reeza Burke is manager/coach of the T&T World Championship team.

"The women," said St Louis, "should be trying to get in the top 50 themselves. The key person if they're to do it is Aleena. If she steps up to the plate, they have a good chance to finish in the top 50."

St Louis expressed his gratitude to Reliability Maintenance Services Company Limited (RMSL) for the company's role in ensuring T&T's participation in Dortmund.

"I want to thank Lennox Munroe and the RMSL company for sponsoring me and Rheann to the upcoming World Championships. RMSL was also our sponsor for the (individual) Worlds in Rotterdam, Holland last year. Lennox is someone I worked with in (Trinidad) Methanol before leaving for France. In those good old days at Methanol, we found time to hold up work for some good old sports talk in the warehouse. I thank him very much for helping us out, and look to further collaboration with RMSL...not forgetting his dear secretary, Sharon Governor."

St Louis said he has been able to strike a deal with table tennis equipment manufacturers, Joola to supply the T&T World Championship team with uniforms "at a 75 per cent reduction".

But while he is busy preparing to lead Team T&T into battle at the World Team Championships, St Louis is in limbo over his participation at the March 1-7 Latin American Championships and Olympic qualifying tournament, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Of course me and Rheann would like to attend. I had asked (Olympic Committee president) Larry Romany to help us out for the Pan Am Games trials in Mexico, and think it's very unfair to ask him again, but if he can help us that would be great. The TTOC has always been good to both me and Rheann.

"I hope my (sports) minister Anil Roberts could come in and save us," the four-time Caribbean men's singles champion continued. "I know he is a sports lover, and he had a mini table at Spalk when he used to be a journalist. I am really counting on my minister. I would appreciate if he could stretch his hand."

St Louis competed at the Atlanta Games in 1996, and made his second Olympic appearance in Beijing four years ago. He is keen to show off his wares for a third time, at the July 27-August 12 London Games.

Chung, meanwhile, is hoping to make her Olympic debut in London.

Chung, a four-time Caribbean women's singles champion, plays for Poitiers in the French Women's Pro B division, while St Louis is the number one player for Men's National 1 team, Agen. Last Saturday, St Louis won three times to steer Agen to a narrow 11-9 victory, away to Saint Sebastien.

But while St Louis and Chung make a living playing for their respective French clubs, their main focus is the red, white and black.

"As for our preparation, it continues with the Olympic trials, World Championships and Caribbean Championships in mind," St Louis ended, "as there is no greater joy than playing for T&T."