February 26, 2009
Table Tennis Hall of Famer Trains World Talents
 Peter Karlsson will work 60 day per year for talents from table tennis development regions. Photo By: Carlos Leo |
Courtesy of ITTF KARLSSON, who signed a two year agreement with the ITTF, will mainly organize and stage a series of high intensity training camps in his home city Falkenberg, Sweden. The first activity in the “CLOSE to KARLSSON” project is planned for late May. |
The bulk of the training camps will be scheduled as a special preparation for the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals being staged in Tokyo in October 2009 as well as prior to the ITTF World Junior Championships in Cartagena De Indias, Colombia held in late November this year.
Member of the ITTF Hall of Fame
KARLSSON retired from the international scene in 2006. He was an integral member of the Swedish Men’s team that succeeded at the World Championships in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 2000. In 1991 he became World champion in doubles together with Tomas VON SCHEELE and KARLSSON was chosen member of the ITTF Hall of Fame in 2003.
In his new role with the ITTF, the European singles champion of the year 2000 will work on an individual basis with players for a period of sixty days a year. He will work exclusively with a small selected group of athletes identified and supported through the ITTF “With the Future in Mind” project.
Initially the targeted players are the Iranian Noshad ALAMIYAN, Egypt’s Omar ASSAR, Marcelo AGUIRRE from Paraguay, Soumyajit GHOSH from India and the only fifteen year old Tunisian Adem HMAM.
Progress for London 2012
“The agreement with Peter KARLSSON clearly allows the ITTF to accelerate a group of specially gifted talents from new and interesting table tennis markets”, said ITTF Director of Education Mikael ANDERSSON. “These athletes have already proved that they are competitive at the junior level and I believe that with improved coaching and a more intensified and structured international calendar, noticeable progress will be made and may well be in evidence at the London Olympic Games 2012.”
Peter KARLSSON is excited about his new role. “I have been fortunate enough to be handed an exciting group of players whom on occasions have seen in action already; I will do my very best to make a difference for these young athletes.”
Female Talents will Go to Asia
The ITTF will now launch a worldwide search for a suitable coach to offer the same exclusive guidance for identified female talents. Mikael ANDERSSON explains the next steps like this. “We will explore other opportunities for our female talents and look for longer training camps to be staged in Asia as it is a fact that the Asian countries for the moment are far superior when it comes to female table tennis.
| Download the latest Flash Player to view content. |