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.
Tourism and Fish
“If we think of the Maldives, first thing that comes to our mind is tourism or perhaps fish”, said Ramon Ortega Montes. “The Maldives is a country with around 2000 islands but only 200 are inhabited, the islands are divided into 26 atolls but for administration 20 atolls; around the island there are reefs, very famous for diving.”
Iin December 2004, the Maldives suffered from the Tsunami which hit South East Asia, some 85 people died, the country being very low lying; however, the necessary repairs to buildings have been made and life is now back to normal.
Training Camp
“The training camp was held from Sunday 8th to Friday 15th November with a break of two days on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th November for a national holiday and the traditional Muslim rest day on Friday”, explained Ramon Ortega. “Three different groups attended; the national team, a group of school players and a second level group; Vajira Wickramasinghe from Sri Lanka is in charge of the national team and since last October he is preparing the team for the next South Asian Games in January 2010.”
He attended every training session and asked Ramon Ortega a host of questions whilst making detailed notes.
Course Content
“During the eight days we concentrated on basic techniques, fitness, footwork and co-ordination exercises; explaining the basic concepts with coaches trying to put into practice what they had learnt”, continued Ramon Ortega. “During the first four days Ahmed Shafeeq, a local coach from Thinadhoo on the Gaaf Dhaal atoll about one hour 20 minutes by air attended; he was a former player 25 years ago and at the same time he was a national team soccer player for five years.”
The atoll has a population of 7,000 and Ahmed Shafeeq is heavily promoting table tennis.
Limited Facilities
“Twenty years ago he began coaching and now in his island there are five clubs; he has around 25 students all under the age of 12 but he has only two tables for practice”, explained Ramon Ortega.
Limited facilities but plenty of endeavour which pleased Ramon Ortega and there was another matter that delighted the much travelled Spaniard.
Television Celebrity
“Television filmed the first few days of the training camp without me knowing, so when I went to the restaurant the owner recognised me; I didn’t realise the filming had taken place!” smiled Ramon Ortega. “Also, there was another special activity; Saturday 21st November was Independence Day so there was a fair which started on the previous evening and continued throughout the following day, it gave the Maldives Table Tennis Association the opportunity to promote table tennis by having a space where skills could be tried against a robot.”
Hassam Latheef, the Ministry of Sport; Mohamed Hanim, the Director Ministry of Sports, Mr. Abdul Razzak Ibrahim, the Director General of Ministry of Sport; Mohamed Mahid Shareef, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports and Mr Aslam Shakir, State Miniser, President´s office; all tried their skills against the robot.
Competitions
“Until now there are no official competitions or national league competitions; only some small tournaments in Male a few times on the year; the new Maldives Association President, Abdulla Javid and his young team want to develop table tennis in Maldives and plan training and competitions in different islands”, continued Ramon Ortega. “They have a lot of ideas to develop table tennis in the country; 2010, will be the 50th anniversary of the Maldives Table Tennis Association; so they will prepare major celebrations.”
It was a busy time for Ramon Ortega Montes but he did have time to relax.
Vacation
“During the two days I was free, I went to the Bandos island resort, a place where a member of the national association owns a water sports company; diving and snorkelling were really great”, said Ramon Ortega. “It is where Timo Boll had spend two holidays and where Zhang Yining was on holiday at the time of my visit!”
Certainly Ramon Ortega was in very good company, very good company indeed!
Hassan Latheef, (left), the Minister of Sport shows his skills whilst (right) Ramon Ortega has breakfast with the country’s young players.
Photo courtesy of Ramon Ortega Montes
Vajira Wickramasinghe addresses the national team.
Photo courtesy of Ramon Ortega Montes
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