Two Barbadian youth table tennis squads competing at the Caribbean Regional Youth Table Tennis Championships have fallen short of pre-tournament expectations, with head coach Nicole Alleyne attributing their underperformance to unaddressed pre-competition jitters and unfamiliar playing conditions. Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY from the tournament host nation the Dominican Republic, Alleyne shared the event’s early team rankings: the Barbadian Under-15 side finished fifth overall, while the older Under-19 squad claimed sixth place. Alleyne, who has led the program through months of preparation for the regional competition, noted that visible nervousness was apparent from the opening matches, though the young athletes gradually grew more comfortable as the tournament progressed. “The environment here is completely different from what these players are used to back home in Barbados,” she explained. “The arena is larger, the crowd is bigger, and the level of competition is far more intense than what they encounter in local matches. It takes time to acclimate to that kind of pressure, and the nerves held them back early on.” Pre-tournament projections from the coaching staff set far higher goals for both squads. For the Under-19 team, Alleyne said the target was a top-three finish. Even with two rookie players making their regional debut, the Under-15 squad was expected to land between third and fourth place, a result that remained out of reach despite late improvements. Even with the lower-than-hoped rankings, Alleyne emphasized she remains satisfied with the young players’ effort and resilience through the challenging opening rounds of the competition. The tournament will shift to individual play on Thursday, with singles matches getting underway for all competitors. The Barbadian Under-15 roster is made up of Maleeq Aimey, Nyal Bushell, Noran Chan and William Allen, while the Under-19 team includes Mikail Mark, Queshawn Smith, Mdjai Collymore and Jashon Smith. Both rosters will now look to turn their late-tournament momentum into strong results in the upcoming singles draws.