China’s training camps help table tennis players from Europe tap their potential

As 14-year-old table tennis player Aaron Sahr from the Luxembourg national youth team was practicing, Chinese Olympic gold medalist Yan Sen watched closely and offered his advice.

The table tennis training camp, which concluded on Sunday in the Luxembourg National Sports Institute compound, was the 26th held by the China Table Tennis College Europe, or CTTC-E. It has drawn some 2,000 players and coaches from around the world since its establishment a decade ago.

“The Chinese are helping very much,” said Sahr, adding that many of his problems have been fixed through the training camps.

“My dream is to represent Luxembourg and Luxembourg will win many medals.”

Lukrecija Juchnaite, a teenage player from Lithuania, agreed.

“I like the training camp. I learned a lot of new things, like strategy and techniques, and to bring it home,” she said. She added that every player wants to be as good as Zhang Yining, referring to the world and Olympic champion who was also coaching at the camp.

Zhang also observed the young players and offered her advice. She has been coaching at the CTTC-E for about eight years.

She said many young European players are quite good, but they would be better with comprehensive training and coaching. She added that some players who were trained in the CTTC-E years ago have become excellent players in Europe and the world.

Enjoying the process

“It doesn’t mean everyone should become world champion because there is only one. But they must tap their potential and enjoy the process, and that’s the key,” she said.

Zhang and Yan were both hailed as excellent coaches by CTTC-E on Monday when it marked its 10th anniversary in a ceremony at the Luxembourg Ministry of Sports.

“The small ping-pong table connects China on one side and the world on the other. With ping-pong balls whiffing back and forth, they build a bridge of friendship between China and Luxembourg and between China and Europe,” CTTC President Shi Zhihao said.

Andre Hartmann, president of the Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation, recalled the friendly exchange and cooperation with the Chinese side since he was a player in the 1970s and 80s.

He praised CTTC-E for bringing the best table tennis players and coaches together.

“It was for us the high moment to have the CTTC Europe in Luxembourg … This is really a big success,” he said.

Heinz Thews, from the Luxembourg federation, has participated in the CTTC-E since its establishment in 2014. He said the training camps have fantastic coaches, and the atmosphere is friendly, highperformance oriented, but relaxed.

“Very successful,” he said. “All the players like to come back, so we have a very good reputation.”