News
Table Tennis stars head to Valley Leisure Centre for Pre-Olympic training
18 October 2011
With London 2012 just around the corner, the emphasis for all high performance athletes and teams is top quality training opportunities, and ultimately Olympic qualification.
Today, a host of local table tennis talent joined Sport Northern Ireland Chair Dominic Walsh to announce that five countries will head to Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey for a Pre-Games Training Event in November 2011.
The event takes place on 7-11 November and will see the GB and Spanish Women’s squads, plus individual athletes from several other countries, arriving to make maximum use of this training event.
Commenting, Dominic Walsh said:
“One member of the GB squad who is in attendance at today’s launch was Na Liu from Northern Ireland. Na Liu is undoubtedly one of the top players in GB, and is hotly tipped for Olympic selection. She has remained undefeated against all British players in the last few seasons.”
Na Liu welcomed the opportunity to train at this event saying:
“It has always been my dream to play in the Olympic Games and this has given me the drive and ambition to put 110% into achieving this goal. Competing at the Olympics will be the pinnacle of my career.”
Also adding to the sporting pedigree at the announcement was Amanda Mogey, from Carnmoney, who is currently the Irish number one in table tennis. Amanda has twice been the Irish National Champion in Women’s Singles, and five times doubles champion.
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Permanent Secretary Rosalie Flanagan expressed her congratulations to all those involved in securing the event, saying:
“I am very pleased that the Valley Leisure Centre will host this International Table Tennis event in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. It is the latest positive announcement in relation to the Olympics and further evidence of the good progress which has been made in attracting world-class competition to Northern Ireland in the run up to 2012.”
Mr Walsh commented:
“To host this high profile pre-Olympic training event for table tennis athletes is fantastic news. To be involved with high performance athletes and coaches in their preparations for the London 2012 Games is invaluable for the sport of table tennis and to inspire our young athletes who will experience the event at first hand. Table tennis is a very accessible and affordable sport for people of all ages and from all backgrounds, and as this event is open to the public, the direct benefits to local clubs and schools will be maximised. The facilities at the Valley Leisure Centre lend themselves very well to such a training event, and those participating will certainly agree that there is no better place for them to train for the Olympics.”
“In addition to this Pre-games Event, Sport Northern Ireland has also been involved in securing the Chinese Gymnastics team, the Australian Boxing Team and the Paralympics Ireland team to locate in Northern Ireland for their Pre-games Training Camps.
“People will also be able to celebrate the Games as the London 2012 Olympic Torch tours here for five days next June; there have also been opportunities for local people to avail of volunteering positions at the Games; our home grown athletes are working to compete in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and very significantly, we have participation programmes like the 2012 Inspired Activ8 programme which has already signed up 100,000 children to the Activ8 Challenge.”
Table Tennis Ulster Chairperson (TTU), Pat Hunter commented:
“Table Tennis Ulster is absolutely delighted to be playing a part in this Olympic legacy Pre-Games Training Event. Table tennis medals will be hotly contested in London with the Chinese Men’s and Women’s sides favourites to take gold, so getting to London will be a major feat for many top drawer internationals, with Continental Selection events still to decide the final places.
“Ulster is most privileged to host the top four Spanish Women who will bring Shen Ye Fei who has already qualified for London, along with the other three members of the Spanish national side. The role of Steen Hansen (Spanish National Coach) cannot be under-estimated in this coup as he has also coached the GB team in 2009 and four top UK girls will be at this superb Valley Leisure Centre venue.
Mrs Hunter added:
“TTU is so proud of Na Liu, from Belfast, who is on the brink of gaining GB Olympic Table Tennis selection. She will be joined by rivals Kelly Sibley, Joanna Parker and Naomi Owen.
“Having top coaches Steen Hansen, Alan Cooke (Commonwealth Men’s and World Veteran champion) and Peter Engel alongside Newtownabbey’s star Andrew Dennison will be such a boost for the public and especially Ulster’s Senior and Junior Squads who will have Master Classes with the leading trainers.”
It was also announced that there would be a head-to-head challenge match between GB and Spain on Tuesday 8 November at the Valley with superb viewing and access to the stars.
Also of interest to any aspiring coaches is the fact that the top Coaches will address a ‘Coaching Talk-in’ for local and national coaches.
Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Billy Webb commented:
“Newtownabbey is proud that the Borough can give top class athletes this opportunity to showcase their talent. I am also delighted to have Amanda Mogey the Irish number one and Andrew Dennison an Ulster high performance coach living and working in the Borough, spotting and coaching young talent at our local leisure centres’.
“Newtownabbey has a proud tradition of sporting athletes and this Pre Games Training Event will allow others to see performers of high class. I also value the legacy that this leaves the development of clubs, regional squads and the athletes taking away the memory of their time staying locally in our hotels, training locally in our facilities and taking in the spectacular views and tourism opportunities this Borough offers.”
This announcement follows a very successful Ulster Junior Open at the Valley Leisure Centre just this weekend. The benefits to be gained for the sport of table tennis are greatly enhanced by this training event for Olympic hopefuls, as many of these Junior players will have the chance to watch and be coached by some of the best in the sport, such as Peter Engel the Spanish Women’s coach and Alan Cooke the English and British Ladies team coach.
