by Ian Marshall, Editor
The course was part of the initiative supported by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the “SET Table Tennis for Everyone” project; the objective being to increase participation in the sport, whilst also introducing new names to coaching, raising the quality and thus the level of play by educating existing coaches and teachers.
Furthermore, the project is proving most successful.
“Every time we hold such a course we have more than 30 participants who want to enroll. It was the same in Yala. Course members came from six provinces, of those who attended 26 members passed the practical exam. It is the second time that we have organized such a course in Yala. I believe in a few years we will have many good players who have been developed by the coaches that participated in such ITTF/PTT Level One Coaching Courses.” Korakij Sermkijseree
Notably to date, thanks to the co-operation of the Table Tennis Association of Thailand, alongside the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Sport Authority of Thailand, seven ITTF/PTT Level One Courses have been conducted in Thailand; once by Richard McAfee from the United States, no less than on six occasions by Korakij Sermkijseree.
“Now we have had some 210 participants who have learned how to teach and also play table tennis; we have a long term strategy to organize more Level One, Level Two, Level Three and High Performance Courses.” Korakij Sermkijseree
Most significantly, earlier this year in September, the Table Tennis Association of Thailand invited Richard McAfee to supervise ITTF/PTT Level One Course Conductor Training; three coaches qualified, namely Nattaphon Wongpanit, Asa Amonrattanasuchat and Kitti Jomkeree. Now including Korakij Sermkijseree, Thailand has four such qualified personnel.
“I am happy and I have fun working hard for table tennis.” Korakij Sermkijseree
It has been a most active year for Korakij Sermkijseree; next year promises to be even more active. He plans to mentor the three new Course Conductors and, for the first time, to organize an ITTF Level Two Course. It may be a little early but Happy New Year.