by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Ten table tennis tables available throughout, the facilities proving ideal for the initiative organized under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme.

Locally matters were administered by Francis Remie, the Director of the Seychelles Sports Council and Chair the Seychelles Table Tennis Association. In addition there was most welcome support from very competent local coaches who had many years of playing and coaching experience.

“Lessons were very basic in the early stage of the camp and more advanced skills such as serve, return and footwork were learned towards the end. Seychellois are naturally very gifted athletes and most of the attendees were proficient at all of the skills by the end of the camp”, Brett Clarke

Impressively, a total of 30 enthusiastic young players took part; three training sessions were held each day with junior age group players attending the afternoon sessions. The introduction of somewhat older players added to the success of the initiative, they were all keen to learn and all willing to assist when necessary.

“On the final day of the camp, a Hopes tournament was conducted in conjunction with other junior and senior events. The Hopes event was very keenly contested and this hopefully means a bright future for youth table tennis in Seychelles”, Brett Clarke

A successful venture; the initiative builds on previous projects organized in the Seychelles under the aegis of the ITTF Development Programme. Notably from December 2013 to July 2014, Denmark’s Steen Kyst Hansen conducted an Olympic Solidarity supported Developing a National Sport Structure Course; more recently Christian Lillieroos of the United States led an ITTF/PTT Level One Coach Education Coures.

In December 2016, thanks to Brett Clarke whose efforts were most well received, the Seychelles made another step forward, an invaluable step.