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City of Angels Looks Down on Thailand’s Future Hopes

By: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Tamolwan Khethuen (left) and Monapsorn Saritapirak (right) joined the Training Camp Photo By: Courtesy of Dejan Papic

4/28/2012

Known as the City of Angels from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th April 2012, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand is the city of hope.

It is the home for an ITTF Hopes Training Camp under the direction of the programme’s head coach, Dejan Papic.

Venue for the activities is the Thonburi University, which has all the necessary facilities.

The premises a gymnasium, classrooms and cafeteria for meals.

Organising matters locally is Dr Tanin Santiwattanatarm, the Hopes Team Co-ordinator for the Table Tennis Association of Thailand.

Comprehensive Programme
The whole programme involves not only a Training Camp, which is being held over three days with five hours training each day; in addition there is a Coaching Workshop and on Friday 27th April a meeting with parents, coaches, players and club representatives was held.

In total 12 boys and 13 girls are present at the Training Camp with 10 coaches assisting Dejan Papic.

Present in Bangkok
Also present is Monapsorn Saritapirak a member of the 2011 ITTF World Hopes Team who finished in second in the Euro Mini Championships in France last year and Tamolwan Khethuen, who was in the inaugural group in 2009.

She is present with coach, Parinya Nonsagate.

Follow ITTF Policies
“We have organized the Thai Hopes Week and applied for the ITTF expert to visit because we believe that this generation is very good, so it is a duty of our organization to provide the best opportunities for our young players to progress to become senior players” said Dr Tanin Santiwattanatarm. “Our intention is to follow what is the ITTF doing, so if there is going to be an ITTF challenge there will be Thai Challenge, if there is ITTF Hopes Week, we will have Thai Hopes Week and so,on.”

Most certainly the thinking is very positive.

“A three days camp is not enough but we are glad that through workshops our coaches can learn about coaching philosophy”, added Dr Tanin Santiwattanatarm. “It is a perfect chance to get proper mind set.”

Views Echoed
The views were echoed by Charun Suksri, coach and parent.

“Four years ago we didn’t have anything similar in Thailand; the ITTF World Hopes Team project brought a lot of attention to young players and we all became aware of the importance of working properly with our young players”, he said.

A training routine being explained Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Extra Value
Furthermore, Charun Suksri believed that the value of the ITTF World Hopes Team project went beyond sport.

“Before everybody would just practise at home or at the near-by club”, he added. “Recently, everybody has started to try to find a coach who understands the programme and not only can teach the necessary skills but can also teach the young people to be true athletes and good people; my boy will also learn to be true gentleman.”

Positive Response
Similarly, Pratipat Yamchuti, the President of Thonburi University Table Tennis Club was positive.

“We are glad to have a future for table tennis in our university”, he said. “It is nice to see kids growing up into good players.”

Preparing to play or seeking divine intervention? Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Learned from Vienna Visit
Meanwhile , Arsa Amornrattanasuchat, who was present at the ITTF Hopes Training Week at the Werner Schlager Academy last year was clear that as a result of being in Vienna a great deal of knowledge had been assimilated.

“My player Samaa didn’t make the World Hopes Team last year but the week in Vienna helped a great deal; before we only knew the Chinese way of training; it was an opportunity to see the European way and be exposed to players from many countries”, he said. “Consequently we changed our training a great deal: since that time he became Thai Under13 champion and now is practising at the National Training: also I have changed my way of coaching.”

Many Discussions
Course members were delighted and so was the Course Conductor, Dejan Papic.

“Thai players and coaches talked very seriously about the programme; it was a pleasure to see all the players being in the gymnasium two hours before first training session”, he said. “They trained a great deal before the official training; I think that overall knowledge and abilities are on the very high level, they already have habits and attitudes of true athletes.”

Coaches with Dejan Papic Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Unexpected Assistants
Furthermore, the Head Coach was delighted with the help he inadvertently received.
“It was a great help to have Parinya and Tamolwan to assist”, he said. “It was not only language barriers that they helped me to bridge, we have worked on numerous camps together and passing on the World Hopes Team spirit and values were important: becoming one of the leading world cadet players, Tamolwan also serves as a great ambassador of our programme.”

Good Set Up
Certainly the programme has been very well received, a fact endorsed by Dejan Papic.
“It is a great setup at the university, universities and other educational institutions are very good places to work with youngsters”, he concluded. “It also gives very good message to parents, sport and education should go together; from an organizational point of view there was every reason to be pleased, the players have everything in one place, gymnasium, accommodation and rooms.”

A successful concept and unquestionably it is a model for others to follow.

Coaches with Dejan Papic Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic ..