Indore hosts first-ever Level Three Course

 

 

Home for the ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals earlier in the year in January, Indore, the largest city and the commercial capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, was the recent home for another major event but one with a different emphasis.

 

Organised under the auspices of the ITTF Development Progamme and led by Richard McAfee of the United States, the first ever Level Three Course, to be staged in the country, was held from Friday 18th March to Friday 25th March. 
 

Abhay Prashal Table Tennis Academy 

 

A total of 18 coaches attended, travelling from throughout India; all enjoyed the outstanding facilities of the Abhay Prashal Table Tennis Academy, a full-time dedicated table tennis stadium. 

 

“It features room for 40 tables with seating for up to 12,000 spectators along with attached dorms for visiting players and coaches”, explained Richard McAfee who was present in India as an ITTF Course Conductor for the fourth consecutive year.

 

Demanding Programme 

 

“Only seven ITTF Level Three courses have been held worldwide”, continued Richard McAfee who stressed the fact that the programme was very demanding.

 

“This high level course is an intensive eight days of hard study and practical sessions designed to prepare coaches to prepare high level athletes for competition”, he explained. “Coaches have to pass five separate exams and complete an additional 80 hours of supervised coaching with high level athletes to achieve Level Three certification.”

 

Unique Initiative

 

A high level course, it was very much a culmination of an initiative which started in 2012.

 

“The ITTF Coaches Education Programme in India was founded by an unique partnership between the Table Tennis Federation of India, the International Table Tennis Federation and the Tenvic Company,” continued Richard McAfee. “Tenvic is a company formed by former India cricket captain Anil Kumble, Dinesh Kumble and Vasanth Bharadwaj, targeted at providing innovative value addition to the sports in the schools, academies at grass roots level”

 

Milestone 

 

It is a prime example of organisations working together for the good of sport, the recent course being very much a goal that was no doubt envisaged to happen but perhaps not so quickly.

 

“The first ITTF Level Three Course in India marks a milestone for the Table Tennis Federation of India,” added Richard McAfee. “In only four short years, all three levels of the ITTF Coaches Education Programme have now been introduced into the country.”

 

Growing Numbers 

 

Notably to date, an overall total of 11 ITTF Coaching Courses have been held in India; currently there are over 200 ITTF certified coaches in the country. Furthermore that number is set to grow, with seven courses planned for later this year.

 

 

Support 

 

 

Richard McAfee will be conducting three of course, Christian Lillieroos, also from the United States will be joining the Tenvic Staff to conduct the remaining four courses which will be supported by the I-Pong Robot Company. They have provided balls and robots for the courses in addition to shirts for all the participants.

 

Local Organisation 

 

“All ITTF Courses are not possible without the help of the local organizing committee and in Indore we had an excellent one,” stressed Richard McAfee who paid tribute to members of the Madhya Pradesh Table Tennis Association.

 

“A special thank you goes to Jayesh Acharya, who is the General Secretary; also to Padmashree Abhay Chhajlani, Shri. Sharad Goyal, the Secretary and Mr.Sanjay, staff member, for all the help and support needed to make this course possible,” concluded Richard McAfee.

 

Outstanding support for what was a landmark occasion for the Table Tennis Federation on India.

 

(Courtesy ITTF/Pictures by Richard McAfee)