07/19/2012       

Walk in a London park or visit a railway station and, at the moment, you may well find a table tennis table; as the city prepares for the Olympic Games, “Ping” has hit England’s capital city for the third consecutive year.

There are table tennis tables here there and everywhere. It is a splendid move to increase the popularity of the sport.

Now, plans are afoot in a slightly different manner in the small South American country of Uruguay to popularize the sport of table tennis.

"The family at the table" is the name of an innovative project, promoted by the Uruguay Table Tennis Federation, which is planned to start soon in towns throughout the country.

Forward Looking President
“Roberto Miglietti, the current President of the National Federation, is the person behind this project, the main goal is the promotion of table tennis in every family”, explained Alejandra Gabaglio, now a coach but herself a former player of note.

She represented Argentina in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games partnering Kim Hae de Rimasa in the Women’s Doubles event.

Now she is one of the ITTF Development Department’s most active coaches and most prominent in promoting female participation.

More Coaches Needed
“More coaches are needed to follow up the project; for this reason an ITTF/PTT Level One Coaches Course was organized”, continued Alejandra Gabaglio who led proceedings and followed the tried and trusted ITTF Coaching Manual.

“The course was held in the city of Colonia del Sacramento, a beautiful city that still retains a colonial historical centre that makes it an outstanding tourist spot in Uruguay”, she continued. “The Secretary of Sports of Colonia, Mr.Walter Ugon Armand, was very enthusiastic about the course and he broadly supported the course by providing the facilities and accommodation for all participants.”

Para Table Tennis
A new venture for Uruguay and there is a another new venture currently taking place.

“Uruguay is taking its first steps in Para Table Tennis, a month ago for the first time Uruguay entered two players in the standing classes at the Copa Tango, an international Para Table Tennis tournament held every year in Argentina”, continued Alejandra Gabaglio. “To continue with the momentum, after the course was completed, we organized a special training day for players with a disability in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital city.”

A splendid innovation and it was well received.

Course Members Attended
“The training involved some players in wheelchairs, standing players and three players with intellectual disabilities; I hope to see them and more players from Uruguay at the Copa Tango 2013”, enthused Alejandra Gabaglio. “Some of the participants on the Coaches’ Course assisted; it game them valuable practical experience.”

The Para Table Tennis element of the course in action in Uruguay
Photo courtesy of Alejandra Gabaglio

Members of the group with Alejandra Gabaglio at the Coaches Course in Uruguay
Photo courtesy of Alejandra Gabaglio