The rhythmic echoing of ping-pong balls against paddles fills a brightly lit training hall in China. Among the athletes engrossed in practice is 23-year-old Geoffrey Loi, a representative of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) national team. As Loi hones his skills against a Chinese player, a Chinese coach meticulously guides him on refining his stance and grip.
This summer, Loi and seven other team members journeyed thousands of kilometers from PNG to the China Table Tennis College (CTTC) at Shanghai University of Sport for a month-long intensive training. Their aim is to prepare for the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games, scheduled for November.
The CTTC Training Center in PNG was established in 2018, backed by both the Chinese and PNG governments. It conducts training camps tailored specifically for PNG players, and invites them to China for weeks-long training sessions every year.
This year, the training program saw the participation of eight PNG athletes, having resumed after a suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. Commencing in late June, it is set to run until July 20. Receiving training from China’s top players, renowned for their dominance in the sport, is a dream come true for these athletes.
Tammi Agari, one of the youngest players in the PNG table tennis national team, expressed her excitement about the opportunity. “This is my first time in China. The training is a bit difficult for me, but I’m getting used to it,” she said.
The program aims to prepare the players for the 2023 Pacific Games. Feng Zhe, the camp’s current head coach and a former Chinese national team player, highlighted the need for PNG athletes to regain their form post-pandemic and acquire tactics specifically tailored for the Games.
Historically, PNG ping-pong athletes were positioned at an upper-middle level among Pacific countries’ players. The establishment of the CTTC training center in PNG, however, has spurred a significant change. After months of training in China, the PNG national team won two silver medals in table tennis at the 2019 Pacific Games – their best-ever result.
In addition to the sporting collaboration, the CTTC program also fosters a cultural exchange. Loi stated, “Learning the Chinese language and Chinese culture are my biggest dreams alongside my passion for ping-pong.”
Ren Jie, executive deputy head of CTTC, emphasized the global popularity of table tennis. The CTTC not only hosts players from PNG, but also organizes similar training camps or summer schools for players from different countries. “Using ping-pong as a platform, we hope to further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, with a particular focus on fostering interactions among young individuals,” Ren concluded.
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