Mexico debuts in Table Tennis

(BEIJING, August 6) -- Marriage and a change of nationality have proved a boost for Table Tennis in Mexico with the country boasting its first-ever Table Tennis player in the Olympic Games.

Yadira Silva (MEX) is competing in the Women's Singles event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Born in Cuba, where she attended the training center in Havana, Silva married and moved to Mexico with a new nationality.

At the Latin American Qualification tournament in the Dominican Republic in March 2008, she secured her place in the Beijing Games.

"Just the fact that I'm here, representing my country, is of great benefit to Table Tennis in Mexico," said Silva. "Now there is much more Table Tennis taking place in my country and there has been more publicity."

Furthermore, there was almost a second Mexican in the Table Tennis events at the Beijing Games; however the efforts of Marcos Madrid were thwarted by Dexter St Louis (TRI) by a narrow margin in the continental qualification tournament.

On Wednesday St Louis practiced with daughter Reann Cheung (TRI) and like Silva just his presence in Beijing is seen as a boost for the Caribbean country.

"Table Tennis in Trinidad and Tobago is not as popular as it should be", he said. "Hopefully, my competing in the Olympics will make the sport more interesting to the kids in my country."

Also, like Silva, he has foreign connections; he lives in Bordeaux, playing in the powerful French National League.