Twenty participate in ITTF Level One course

Twenty participants, drawn from the Division of Physical Education and Sports, along with Physical Education teacher and others from the community, were exposed to five days of Table Tennis training, inclusive of Para Table Tennis (PTT).

Conducted by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) expert Aleena Edwards, who is also a lecturer at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the participants were given insight into basic training techniques to teach people with disabilities.

The first segment of Edwards’ assignment to St Vincent and the Grenadines, from September 12 to 16, 2023, took place at the New Democratic Party Headquarters on Murray’s Road.

Whilst the course focused on PTT, Edwards first had to introduce the participants to the sport, as most had little knowledge of it.

“Some of them weren’t familiar with what the sport is like because they are PE teachers, so it was really warming to see that they stuck to the five days during which they really showed growth”, Edwards explained.

With the seeds sown, Edwards is hoping that the participants will utilise the new-found knowledge to get certified and eventually add value to the sport.

“I am looking forward to them certifying, because this part one of it, that is gaining the knowledge and from now on, they have to go back into the schools, into their clubs, go back to their communities and do the coaching hours, firstly, to be certified as level one and hopefully they are able to now get their clubs and build from the grassroots up,” Edwards anticipated.

Giving background to the course and her stint here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Edwards expounded: “The ITTF is embarking on some development programmes where they are going to the lower grade countries to bring them up the level of the other top countries in the world… . SVG was one of the countries that was targeted so SVG is very fortunate as the course is a special one.”

Apart from the course, Edwards visited schools as well as worked with some of the national players before returning to her homeland, Trinidad and Tobago.