Dynamic table tennis player Godfrey Munroe has landed a table tennis scholarship to the Texas Wesleyan University to pursue an Undergraduate Business Programme.

Munroe, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports, told this newspaper that he had been accepted by the Texas Wesleyan University to read for his Masters degree in Business Administration.

Munroe, a former Caribbean men’s doubles champion will join a star-studded Texas Wesleyan University table tennis team which boasts several Olympians and former US players.

The Texas Wesleyan University varsity team is the number one table tennis team for the past two years and includes such players as 1996 Olympian Jimmy Butler and current United States team member Eric Owens along with players from Yugoslavia and China.

The supremely talented Munroe, who ended national champion Sydney Christophe’s 12 year streak in 2000, will be a great boost to the Texas University’s chances of extending their dominance in the sport.

Munroe said the athletic/academic scholarship is a partial one which he explains means that although he will be granted free housing, he will have to pay 25 per cent of the cost of his tuition.

Head coach of the Texas Wesleyan University table tennis team, Christian Lillieroos said that his university is currently ranked number one in the nation by the National Collegiate Table tennis Association.

“Over the last year we have had two Olympians and three US national champions on our team, “ said Lillieroos.

Munroe was yesterday enthusiastic of his opportunity to play and study in the US.

“I think it will be a great plus for our table tennis team given the strength of the programme and the variety of players on the team,” he said.

“Couple with that it has always been my dream to pursue higher academic excellence and in this regard, this is a perfect opportunity for me to realise both my table tennis and my academic goals,” he said.

Munroe, who won the first ever Caribbean men’s Grand Prix tournament, lamented the limited opportunities available for table tennis players to play among higher ranked players and said he hoped that he could enhance Guyana’s table tennis image in the region and further afield on his return.

Munroe is expected to leave Guyana on Friday.