Development officer impressed with table tennis talent

Friday 17: A two week table tennis coaching and player training development programme will wrap up on Monday with some fantastic results seen so far.

The development programme is being coordinated by Oceania Table Tennis Federation development officer Scott Houston from Australia.

Houston says he has been very impressed with the skills he has seen amongst local players with a number of players in the programme from the outer islands of Aitutaki and Mauke.

“Really the scope of the development is improving considering table tennis has only been in the Cook Islands for the past 10 years,” says Houston.

In the first week of the development programme, Houston concentrated on a level one coaching course which saw 12 of the 16 students go through the course.

He says that with a little bit more practical coaching experience under their belts these 12 students can expect their level one coaching certificates in less than a month.

This week Houston says he has helped coach 29 young players at a high level training programme.

He says that the benefit for local players is that they have the opportunity to represent Oceania in Japan in October.

Meanwhile Houston will return back to the Cooks in September when he will help coordinate the Pacific Mini Games table tennis programme. He hopes to see the likes of teenagers, the country’s top player, Louise Mokoha, and promising player, Ana Pere playing at those games. - MW