29 May 2016
Doha, 29 May 2016. Aspire Academy is hosting the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Hopes Week & Challenge from May 29 – June 4 in the Aspire Dome. The challenge week is an important component of the ITTF’s Hopes programme, an initiative designed to build the popularity of table tennis and encourage its growth and development around the world.
The primary goal of the programme is to support national table tennis associations in identifying talented young players and enhancing their chances of future success. The programme also supports the professional development of coaches, reflecting their vitally important role in the development of future talent. “It’s a pleasure to be in Qatar and working with Qatar Table Tennis Association and Aspire Academy to bring for important talent identification program, ITTF World Hopes week for 11 and 12 year olds. The ITTF philosophy behind the World Hopes is to develop players and coaches towards excellence in the sport through education and training,” said ITTF Deputy CEO Glen Tepper in a press conference on Sunday morning at Aspire Academy that was also attended by QTTA Assistant General Secretary Ali Sultan Al Muftah and Aspire Academy Deputy Sports Director Dr Hazem Fareed.
The ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge will see 32 boys and girls from around the world, including two from Qatar, engaging in an intensive week of training at the Academy. This culminates in a series of challenge matches due to take place on Saturday June 4 in the Aspire Table Tennis Hall. The results of these challenges combined with an assessment based on a specific set of criteria will enable the ITTF to select four boys and four girls from the group to take part in a subsequent training camp, and to compete at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge taking place in Shanghai from October 21-29, 2016.
During the week, the visiting coaches will also engage in a number of sessions with the Academy’s Sports Science department designed to boost their knowledge and understanding in relation to topics including talent identification, the development of technical skills and other important aspects that are critical to the development of the sport.
Commenting on the event, Dr Hazem Fareed, Deputy Sports Director at Aspire Academy, said: “We’re delighted to host the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation World Hopes Week & Challenge as part of our ongoing cooperation with the Qatar Table Tennis Association and the International Table Tennis Federation. Hosting such events directly supports our mission at Aspire Academy to identify and develop well-educated sports champions. Enabling the growth of sports such as table tennis also underpins our vision to be recognised by 2020 as the world’s leading sports academy in the development of young athletes.”