High Performance ITTF Coach on 12-Day Visit to Antigua

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By Neto Baptiste

International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) high performance coach and player Aleena Edwards from Trinidad and Tobago is currently conducting a 12-day course in Antigua with coaches, PE teachers, players and administrators as she seeks to assist the national association in building momentum for the game here.

Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, Edwards — who is also technical director of youth development for table tennis in Trinidad — described her visit as a developmental one as she seeks to improve the standard of coaches and players at the grassroots level.

“There is a new wave and ITTF is really on a roll of developing the countries that don’t have much activities happening on the islands. I was in St Vincent about three weeks ago where I certified their Level One coaches.

“ITTF is who is sending the activities. So it’s under a members’ association developmental activity and their activity in Antigua, because they are classified in Grade Four — they would have gotten to certify their PE teachers at a club level — and also to go into the schools, do some school tours and see if I could assist the coaches or PE teachers there to unearth new talent and also to do national training programmes for those athletes who are on a national level right now,” she said. 

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International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) high performance coach and player Aleena Edwards (left) and table tennis coordinator within the national association Tritia George in studio at Observer

Since arriving in Antigua, Edwards has conducted a specialised club coach course for 30 PE teachers, rollout of table tennis introductions at two schools daily with a goal of reaching six schools in total, while also hosting a rigorous training session with athletes from the national programme.

President of the table tennis association, Charles Bellot, said Edwards has been well received by all parties.

“It has been excellent, extremely encouraging. We have PE teachers who come to regular practices now and they are all gung-ho about it. Table tennis is a very addictive sport so once you put a ball, board and rackets, you are good to go. They really have been interested, the delivery by miss Edwards was impeccable, she kept everybody engaged and the response is very encouraging,” he said. 

Meanwhile, table tennis coordinator within the national association, Tritia George, said that with the recent placements of boards and other table tennis equipment at some schools, there has been an increase in activity where the sport in concerned.

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President of the Table Tennis Association, Charles Bellot (Observer media photos)

“We’ve been going into the schools and what we’ve noticed is that once the children experience the ball and the paddle and the table, they tend to become very enthusiastic. Even at my school [Jennings Secondary] they have students who now come to the PE room every break [and] after school sometimes, just to play even if they don’t have the actual skills. So it’s really been catching on and they have been encouraging their friends,” she said.

During her stint, Edwards will also make a presentation on the introduction of Para Table Tennis, emphasising the sport’s inclusivity and expanding its reach. There are also plans for the sister isle of Barbuda and the introduction of table tennis into schools there.

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