TATAND inks training pact with Beijing sports school

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine table tennis delegation scored two victories at the close of its five-day tour when its 12-member team won 23 of its 30 matches over the weekend and the Table Tennis Association for National Development inked an agreement with the host school for the annual training of young Filipino players under the school’s world-class coaches.

The men’s team won, 14-4, while the girls squad prevailed, 9-3, against high school students in the singles events.

The men’s team included UAAP and national junior champions Adolfo Bazar and Jerald Cristobal of University of Santo Tomas, Soren Patrick Mendiola and Jann Mari Nayre of San Beda College, Sandro Paul Cortez of University of the East, Ian Lariba of La Salle and Jethro Gapas of Letran.

The women players were Danica Marielle Alburo of UE, Ina Alleli Co of La Salle, Joma Ila Sibal of UP Diliman, Ma Angelica Sanchez of SBC and lone high school champion Jannah Maryam Romero.

The friendship match served as a sidelight to the main agenda, the signing of a deed of intent between TATAND and the Competitive Sports School of the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports in the outskirts of Beijing.

The deed of intent was signed by TATAND president Richard Tan and the school’s principal Xu Liangyan.

The agreement provided for the training of young Filipino table tennis players in the sports institute, which has separate training facilities catering to individual and team sports – basketball, table tennis, badminton, athletics, wrestling, judo, weightlifting, wushu sanda (combat wushu) and wushu taolu (form).

On hand to witness the signing were Consul General and deputy chief of mission Erlinda Ong Jimenez, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, Philippine Olympic Committee treasurer and wushu president Julian Camacho, TATAND officers, sportsman-businessman Stephen Techico and the 12-member TATAND team.

The institute, which has produced national champions and world and Asian champions in youth competitions, teaches sports to students from seven years old to 20 in its facility located in a secluded forested area, about an hour’s ride from the city. Sports education is integrated into the elementary and high school curriculum which offers regular subjects with emphasis on sports science.

Garcia was himself impressed with the facilities and sports system as well as the eco-friendly environment, unlike the Philippines sports facilities, like the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Vito Cruz, Manila and the ULTRA in Pasig.

“This (sports institute) has always been our dream. We have training centers but they are in the middle of the city – polluted and not conducive to training. This (facility) is ideal for the training of world-class athletes,” he said.

Techico, considered the godfather of table tennis, who sponsored the Uni-Orient Cup for 10 straight years, said he would continue sending athletes to Beijing, this time annually, to give upcoming players a chance to compete against Chinese paddlers while training side by side with them under former national and international champions.

“We sent the players here on the occasion of our 10th anniversary. Starting next year, we shall send them every year,”he said.