Ping committed to lifting table tennis standard
Stabroek News
February 13, 2004
Chinese table tennis coach Zhou Ping has been working hard to lift the standard of table tennis in Guyana and already some of the players have been showing progress
One such player is Matthew Khan. The talented Khan played unbeaten in an 18-man round robin tournament to emerge the winner.
He was followed by national champion Sydney Christophe with a 17-1 aggregate. Speaking to Stabroek Sports through interpreter Qin Jian, Ping said the players have improved to some extent.
"It has been more than three months now since I came to Guyana and I was surprised to find that the level of table tennis here is higher than I expected," Ping said.
"What's more, there exists a perfect organizing body and wellconceived yearly programmes," he added.
Ping said while the junior and senior players train hard and are extremely serious about their training, they need to think more.
"If they can think earnestly and use their head much more, I believe they would do better in the international competitions ahead," said Ping. Ping also praised the Guyana government. "The Guyanese government attaches great importance to sports as is evidenced by the fact that both the Prime Minister [Samuel Hinds] and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport [Gail Teixeira] came to the sports hall to play and watch the training respectively."
He added: "I was moved deeply by the hospitality and friendship showed by Guyanese people towards Chinese people. "Table tennis is a game with long history and loved deeply by people. It's an indoor participation sport requiring only small space and can be played lightly as well as flexibly. Players are not easy to get injured. The amount of exercise can be large or small. Moreover, expense for it isn't much. Also, it can be played by people of all ages."
Ping said he remains committed to lifting the standard of table tennis in Guyana. "I will pass on advanced techniques to the Guyanese youngsters.
I hope more young people would like this game. Often, playing table tennis can improve physical fitness and enrich one's life. In the meantime, I hope there are more parents supporting and encouraging their children to participate in it. I will make a contribution to the promotion and development of table tennis in Guyana."