Table tennis-Italian expert runs training camp |11 December 2008

A high-performance coach and coach education course conductor of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Mr Costantini is being helped by local trainer Jimmy Vel during the sessions at the Roche Caïman Omnisports Gym.

More than 40 youngsters and more experienced table tennis players are taking part in the sessions. They are being taught the basics of the sport and how to get their bodies to translate the actions they want to perform.

Most of the players come from the Anse Aux Pins, Beau Vallon, Plaisance, Anse Etoile and Pointe Larue schools. They train twice a day.

Coach Costantini says the gap is too big between experienced players and those on the junior team.

“The national team players have good techniques, but they need to compete in more overseas tournaments to gain more experience,” he told Sports Nation.

“I’m very happy they are showing a high level of commitment and willingness to improve. As for the junior players, they have to work harder to be able to follow training sessions and compete at a higher level.”

Apart from running the training camp set up by the Seychelles Table Tennis Association (STTA) in collaboration with the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga), coach Costantini worked with national team players Anniessa Benstrong, Christie Bristol, Godfrey Sultan and Ronny Marengo, who are to take part in the Top-Four competition in Reunion.

The four players are to leave the country on Monday December 15.

Here on his first working visit, Mr Costantini was the head coach of the Italian national team for three years and led his country to be ranked eighth overall at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

He said he will stay in touch with the local table tennis association to monitor the development and performance of local players.

According to an STTA spokesperson, coach Costantini will run a training camp in Tanzania in April next year ahead of the World Junior Circuit. Seychellois table tennis players and those coming from other parts of the world are expected to take part.

Coach Constantini is also expected to take up a job as India’s head coach for a two-year period.

I. H.