by Simon Daish

Current women’s coach Elena Timina’s contract expires on Saturday 1st July; the NTTB has decided not to take the opportunity to renew.

Elena Timina has accepted the decision and will pass the baton on to Li Jiao.

Not only did the Netherlands pick up three table tennis medals at the 2015 European Games under Timina’s leadership; the country finished in the top eight of the Perfect 2016 World Team Championships.

She also played an important role in the Women’s Doubles bronze medal finish for Li Jie and Poland’s Li Qian at the Qoros 2015 World Championships.

However, the decision has been taken by the NTTB to usher in a new coaching set up for the women’s team and Li Jiao is no stranger to success.

Li Jiao, 44, is a two-time European Women’s Singles champion, a four-time Europe Top 12 winner and won the Women’s Singles gold medal at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Following her retirement from the sport Li Jiao has been a prominent member of the Netherlands coaching team, and oversaw Li Jie’s title winning campaign at the 2017 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup event in February.

While the Netherlands Table Tennis Association is yet to officially appoint a men’s coach, the organisation is optimistic that a deal will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Source: NTTB