Officials and winners attend the trophy presentation ceremony at the close of play on Friday.

Lao players battle on at World Table Tennis Youth Contender

Laos’ younger generation of table tennis players are honing their skills and gaining some valuable lessons at the 2nd World Table Tennis Youth Contender taking place in Vientiane from September 18-21.

Head coach of the Lao table tennis team Ms Dalavone Manichanh talks to reporters.

The team’s head coach, Ms Dalavone Manichanh, said players in all age groups were employing tactics on a par with their opponents but lacked experience at the international level of competition.  
“We hope to provide a more robust training regime so that junior players can build their skills and meet with more success in the future,” she added.
The Lao Table Tennis Federation has arranged for 42 junior players and 10 trainers from clubs in Vientiane and Champassak province to compete in every age category of the World Table Tennis Youth Contender.
Participation in the tournament allows players to gain points for ranking by the International Table Tennis Federation.
Ms Dalavone said the tournament was also an opportunity for Federation officials to gain a deeper appreciation of the competencies required for successful organisation of an international event.
Some 201 players are taking part in the tournament, from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, India, the Maldives, Australia and Colombia.
Players are competing in boys’ and girls’ singles events in the U-11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 age groups, and mixed doubles in the U-15 and U-19 divisions.
At the close of play on Friday, Hong Kong took first place in the U-19 mixed doubles, while Chinese Taipei placed first in the U-15 mixed doubles.
The Federation is only able to finance Laos’ participation in one international event each year because of budgetary constraints, although many players compete in local events.
Next year, a Lao team will compete at the South East Asia Games in Thailand.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 21, 2024)