by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The course conductor was Egypt’s Ahmed Dawlatly, the ITTF Technical Expert; a total of 29 coaches, 27 men and two women, attended. Notably there was a one hundred per cent attendance record; members co-operating in an air of dedication and discipline combined with friendship.

“Indonesia, a south-east Asian nation made up of 13,667 thousands volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of ethnic groups speaking many different languages”, said Ahmed Dawlatly. “It’s known for beaches, volcanoes, Komodo dragons and jungles, sheltering elephants, orangutans and tigers; on the island of Java lies Indonesia’s vibrant, sprawling capital, Jakarta.”

A first for Indonesia and it was an Indonesian first.

 “As the first Olympian from Indonesia, I’m very grateful, Indonesia Table Tennis Association, born 56 years ago, has never had course like this before”, said Tony Zwingly Meringgi, who competed in the table tennis events at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and is now the national team coach.

“It really enlightened us”, added Tony Zwingly Meringgi. “We are proud of ITTF’s attention to humanity programmes such as in Yemen, also for giving hope to the disabled.”

Also present was Adyos Astan, a Class 4 Para athlete alongside Rima Ferdianto, a Para table tennis classifier.

Notable members but arguably the most noteworthy of all was the person who organised proceedings. Jimmy Lee, the Foreign Affairs Officer for the Indonesia Table Tennis Association, had spent two months preparing matters; the result was that the whole course progressed without a hitch.

“First of all, we would like to thank you, ITTF and its team to have given us the chance to work together in enhancing Indonesia table tennis by having organized an ITTF/PTT Level One Coaching Course and Training Camp in Solo last week”, said Jimmy Lee. “We also intend to organize the same in four or five months’ time.”

The Indonesia Table Tennis Association intends to apply for a grant from Olympic Solidarity.

“Our intention is to have as many as possible professional coaches throughout the country that comprises of about 13,667 Islands”, added Jimmy Lee. “We are sure that we can build strong Indonesia Table Tennis Association with the help of Olympic Solidarity and the International Table Tennis Federation; my thanks a lot to you all.”

In addition, Komjen Pol Oegroseno SH. President of the Indonesia Table Tennis Association visited the course paid to check on matters and to be sure all was running well in what would appear to be an era of progress.

“Indonesia is in the final preparations for obtaining the ITTF approval for the first Indonesia made Table Tennis table”, explained Ahmed Dawlatly.

Matters came to a conclusion with a closing ceremony which Marina Warokka, the Deputy General Secretary of the Indonesia Table Tennis Association attended.

Now the task for the students is to complete their 30 hours of practical coaching to gain their ITTF/PTT Level One Certificate.