Melecio Riveira, ITTF Executive Vice President, Welcome's the Course Participants

11/20/2009
In recent years we have all seen that the countries of Latin America are moving in a positive forward direction with the development of table tennis. The development program and ITTF Scholarships have had a massive impact in terms of Coaching and junior development in the region.

With increased awareness of the importance to provide the players with high level professional events and the importance of Television, media and the need for further sponsorship, the ITTF under the auspices of the Development Program hosted a 3 day ITTF Marketing Course on the small coastal city of Salinita’s in El Salvador at the spectacular De-Cemeron resort.

Defeat for Seiya Kishikawa

11/20/2009
Japan’s Seiya Kishikawa and Jun Mizutani had experienced contrasting fortunes on the evening of Thursday 19th November at the Asian Championships in Lucknow.

The former had recorded a memorable victory over Ma Long in the final of the Men’s Team event against China; the latter had suffered excruciating pain losing to Xu Xin.

One day later, in the third round of the Men’s Singles event it was role reversal but not in quite such dramatic circumstances.

Pain and pleasure were both experienced.

Schoolchildren trying to exert control over a table tennis ball

11/20/2009
Organised by the Oceania Table Tennis Federation in conjunction with ITTF Development Programme, Norfolk Island hosted a visit by Scott Houston, the Oceania Development Officer from Thursday 11 November to Wednesday 18 November 2009.

The purpose of the visit was to spread the word of table tennis across the island and to find the necessary people who would be interested in starting and running the Norfolk Island Table Tennis Association.

In both instances there was success.

Aslam Shakir, the State Minister at the President's Office playing on Independence Day

11/20/2009
An island country situated in the Indian Ocean some 700 kilometres south west of Sri Lanka, the Maldives was the home for an ITTF Development Programme course from Sunday 8th to Tuesday 17th November 2009 that comprised a Training Camp and Tournament Organisation Course.

Expert for the course was Spain’s Ramon Ortega Montes.

Fishing is the traditional way of life but as travel makes the world ever more accessible, tourism has grown immensely and as Ramon Ortega was to discover it is the holiday destination for two celebrated table tennis players.

Jenan S. Ismael (left) supervised by Ahmed Dawlatly

11/19/2009
Situated in Western Asia sharing borders with Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; Iraq is a country that has suffered in recent times from political unrest.

Strife as opposed to harmony has been the norm in the country, whose capital city is Baghdad and where a unifying force is needed.

Something that brings co-operation and understanding.

Sandra Paovic on duty for Croatia at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

11/19/2009
„Možeš sve“ („You can do anything“) is a project which is underway to support table tennis Olympian Sandra Paovic’s rehabilitation after a car accident in January this year.

The promotion event will take place in the Zagreb Arena on 29th December 2009. A film presentation will be followed by a concert live transmitted by the Croatian Radio-Television (HRT).
The main attraction is Band Aid, a specially formed music band consisting of many renowned names from the Croatian music and sport scene.

Local officials in Sierra Leone

11/18/2009
Situated in West Africa with an Atlantic coastline and therefore splendid beaches, Sierra Leone was the home for an ITTF/PTT Level One Coach Education course and Training Camp from Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October 2009.

The course was organised under the auspices of Olympic Solidarity and the ITTF Development Programme.

Expert for the course was Egypt’s Mohamed Gharib.