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Table tennis players take on the Chinese at their own game

Twelve of Latrobe City’s top junior table tennis players departed for Latrobe City’s sister city of Taizhou in China on Sunday.

By Latrobe City Council - 10th May 2006 - Back to News

The junior table tennis team comprising six girls and six boys are in Taizhou as part of a cultural learning exchange facilitated between the sister cities, and will compete against teams from three Taizhou schools in what is expected to be an action filled series.

Latrobe City’s senior economic development officer, Leo Billington, who will be accompanying the players, said the table tennis team was selected last year and recently went through an extensive training session in preparation for the trip.

"The competition is expected to be tough in a country renowned for its prowess in the game. "Latrobe’s young players however, are confident of more than making their counterparts struggle for victory, and will be delivering a few surprises to any of their opposition who are complacent," Mr Billington said.

"The young players have been planning strategies to play against the Chinese and have been practicing moves such as delivering a lot of top spin and chop in an attempt to outmanoeuvre their counterparts."

The young players are also accompanied by their Latrobe Table Tennis managers and coaches, Kerri and Rob Thompson.

The competitive games will be keenly followed by Latrobe’s mayor and chief executive officer who also accompanied the team to Taizhou on Sunday, and are holding a series of meetings with their counterparts in Taizhou and Takasago, together with visits to educational and industrial facilities.

Cr Price said the sporting exchange is an excellent and practical way for young people to effectively learn about the Chinese culture.

"This exchange is part of Latrobe City’s sporting exchange program which earlier this year saw a junior basketball and soccer team compete in Japan with our sister city, the City of Takasago. The China visit will complete this year’s sports exchange program and I know our table tennis team will acquit themselves really well in Taizhou," Cr Price said.

"This sports exchange program enables our younger community to learn first hand about the key features of Chinese culture. Besides playing table tennis, the children are being hosted by Taizhou Middle School number 1 which is the sister school to Traralgon College. Here they will involve themselves in classroom activities besides witnessing the daily routine of life in China.

"Combined with a visit to Shanghai, one of the world’s largest cities in the world’s fastest growing economy, I think this visit will highlight a great deal and prove very effective for the children’s education about Australia’s connection with China."

The table tennis team has had support from a successful fund raising program that included a sports memorabilia auction, raffle and chocolate sales and sponsorship from Australian Paper, Tru Energy, Loy Yang Power, Latrobe City and The Flight Centre.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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