by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The expert on duty was the host nation’s Ramzi Mabrouk, a coach who just under one year earlier in December 2015, had let a similar course in Tataouine, city located in the south of the country.

A total of 16 students, nine men and seven women completed the schedule.

Notably one of the students was Ghazi Belkahia, the national coach of the Tunisian team who had been present with the African Team at the “2016 World Cadet Challenge” in Shanghai.

In addition to organising the coach education sessions, Ramzi Mabrouk met Abdelkarim Fatnassi, the Bizerte Regional Commissioner of Youth and Sports.

“We discussed on interest of training young coaches who will supervise the practice of table tennis for beginners and youngsters in the various clubs of the region and in the youth houses”, Ramzi Mabrouk after meeting Abdelkarim Fatnassi.

A positive meeting accrued at a time when an increase in participation levels and improved results are being witnessed.

Notably at the ITTF-African Championships staged earlier this year in October, the Tunisian trio of Fadwa Garci, Abir Haj Salah and Safa Saidani secured the silver medal in the Women’s Team event; the country’s best ever performance in the history of the Championships.