MINISTRY of Sport specialist badminton coach and multiple national champion, Solangel Guzman has been appointed to the position of Technical Director by the Trinidad and Tobago Badminton Association (TTBA) new executive board.
Guzman is also this country’s leading female athlete and one of the top players in the Pan American region. And whilst her list of athletic achievements is quite extensive, the former Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games 2006 champion also boasts of an impressive academic curriculum vitae.
An inspired Guzman expressed her commitment towards such a post and revealed that she is ready for the task ahead. Though she expects a challenging list of assignments, Guzman is well aware that this opportunity will certainly derive all-round benefit. The former Cuban athlete holds a Bachelor’s of Scienc in Physical Education and Sport (Manual Fajardo University - Havana, Cuba 2002-2009) and is a Level III badminton coach (TT). She has attained certificates in Planning of Sport Training, Sport Preparation, Massage Therapy and Shuttle Time Badminton Tutor. Some of her previous work experience also entails being Cuban national badminton team captain/ assistant coach (2004-2007) and Cuban national badminton team captain/ coach (2007-2009).
On her recent appointment, TTBA president Derwin Renales admitted that Guzman’s knowledge and experience of the sport should play an instrumental role towards the overall enhancement of badminton.
Renales stated, “We, the members of the TTBA executive and by extension the Trinidad and Tobago Badminton fraternity are truly elated to have Ms Guzman on board as the Technical Director. We are used to seeing her from an athlete’s perspective, however, I am certain that Solangel is a good fit for this post. Apart from being well trained, she also brings years of experience and she is an extremely enthusiastic and creative individual with a strong work ethic. Solangel also possesses a high level of Sport Science acumen that would definitely be a valuable asset to us. We welcome Ms Guzman and look forward to the level of badminton in Trinidad and Tobago being lifted to higher heights in 2014 and beyond.”