UC player Tormis to join RP-Fujian meet
Monday, May 10, 2010
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UNIVERSITY of Cebu's top table tennis player Dannel Jay Tormis got a rare opportunity to train and join a three-city tournament in China next month.
Tormis was selected by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (Tatap) along with two other players-Manila's Raymund Manlapas and Bacolod's John Paul Gubaton--to join the RP-Fujian meet.
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The three were chosen following their impressive performances in the Palarong Pambansa.
Manlapas and the NCR won the team title, while Gubaton won the singles event. Tormis won the silver in both the team and singles events.
"We are actually very lucky to have been chosen to take part in this competition and training. China is a world powerhouse in table tennis. A lot of Europeans spend a lot just to train in China and we were invited to go for free," said UC head coach Jessica Jawad-Honoridez.
The coach added the only thing the RP delegation needs to take care of is their airfare and allowance for the five-day trip.
Table tennis is not one of the top priorities of the Philippine Sports Commission. Luckily, Tatap was given this opportunity in line with the 35th anniversary of the RP-China bilateral relations.
The coaches of the three players are also invited to join and will be taught the techniques they will use to follow up on training of their wards once they return from China.
"What is good about this is apart from the athletes getting the needed exposure with the competitions, they will also be assessed and taught the proper techniques so that they will improve," said Honoridez.
She added that the coaches' exposure will also help train other junior players.
"Tatap does not have that program yet. This will be a huge breakthrough so that we can finally have one. That is why all three coaches are included so that we follow the same program and dili mag lahi-lahi," she said.
Honoridez, who is a Tatap official, will be going to Cagayan de Oro this week to conduct a coaching seminar.
