The activity also served as the practical element of the “My Gender. My Strength.” for 4 of its participants, who assisted the Head Coach in the delivery of the training week. The young players and their coaches worked through two daily sessions of three hours each for the 4 days of training, followed by two days of the Challenge tournament to determine who would join other qualifiers for the ITTF World Hopes Week in Asunción (PAR) in early November.

“The training environment was very good, the organizers did a good job in welcoming everyone to their beautiful country to give the opportunity to these 40 players to play our beautiful sport in this great environment”. – Ricardo Faria, ITTF Expert

“I think the ITTF Hopes  program is a very good learning experience for kids, especially since top players like Adriana Diaz and Hugo Calderano grew up around these types of environments as well. I hope more people get to participate in Hopes activities because I think they’re crucial for growing experiences at a young age.” – Raymond Zhao Wei Zhang, coach from Canada

“I find the program super interesting since it is the way to begin taking boys and girls at an early age to experience higher level training and incorporate sports knowledge.In addition to the human and cultural value that it means to share with other athletes and coaches from different countries.” – Damian Rajmil, coach from Argentina

“Being part of the MGMS was a unique experience in which I met and shared knowledge with other beneficiaries of the women’s development project who work on the development and growth of Table Tennis in their countries. The experience of being able to attend and be part of the Americas Hopes Week showed me as a coach a new objective, which is to work with my athletes to be able to attend the next Hopes activity with them. Thank you for such a beautiful and enriching experience.” – Nayra Herbas, MGMS beneficiary and coach from Bolivia

“I thank the ITTF and Katarzyna Kubas, ITTF Head of Development Projects, for the opportunity they have given me to participate in this incredible activity. Being a beneficiary of the “My Gender. My Strength.” project and participating in the Americas Hopes Week has been a very enriching experience. This space has not only provided me with tools and resources to empower myself, but it has also created a support community with coaches from the region where women can share our concerns, knowledge, dreams, and our desire to keep improving.  As for me, the Hopes Program is of crucial importance as it promotes the identification, development, and guidance of the youngest and most talented athletes from each country. Without a doubt, this is an excellent way to invest in the future of table tennis in this region.” – Tania Gonzaga, MGMS beneficiary and coach from Ecuador

Players qualified for the World Hopes Week in Asunción (PAR), 1-7 November 2024: Qualified players