The Botswana National Olympic Committee has played host to a table tennis training camp at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Gaborone ©BNOC

The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) has played host to a table tennis training camp at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Gaborone.

Held in association with the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA), the camp is aimed at helping towards the BTTA’s goal of reaching international standards of competitiveness in the sport.

It forms part of a four-year plan with the goal being to compete at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in The Bahamas, the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, the 2018 African Youth Games in Algiers and the 2019 African Games. 

The training camp is supported through the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Olympic Solidarity talent identification grant, and is facilitated by an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) technical expert, Ahmed Dawlatly.

Dawlatly, from Egypt, has served as the head coach and technical manager for national teams and clubs in a number of countries.

He became the ITTF’s Africa development officer in 2013 before graduating to ITTF technical expert in January of last year.

Numerous table tennis players signed up for the training camp, with the majority identified through the Botswana Integrated Sports Association zonal and national level competitions as the most talented and promising young stars.

The Botswana Table Tennis Association is aiming to reach international standards of competitiveness
The Botswana Table Tennis Association is aiming to reach international standards of competitiveness ©BTTA

The BTTA also staged a coaches and course coordinators clinic involving 10 participants - five of which hold the level two coaching certificates with the other five made up of qualified teachers with relevant qualifications and experience in table tennis.

In February, BTTA President Lesego Master Maifala confirmed Botswana would be withdrawing from all international competitions this year to maintain focus on developing the sport from grassroots level.

In collaboration with the Botswana Primary Schools Sport Association, the BTTA has introduced table tennis in primary schools in order to familiarise youngsters with the dynamics of the sport at an early age.

"In 2016 our main aim will be youth development," Maifala told Botswana's Sunday Standard Reporter.

"We want a youthful team that will represent the country at all youth regional and international competitions until they make it to the senior national team."