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Winner of the Euro Mini Championships in 2011, Vaness Leung Tsz Ching, leads the ITTF World Hopes at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Guam.
Following the conclusion of the three day Training Camp under the guidance of Richard Prause, competition starts in earnest on Tuesday 30th October 2012.
Vaness Leung Tsz Ching lines up alongside Romania’s Adina Diaconu, Thailand’s Monapsorn Saritapirak and Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi.
Furthermore, she is one of three players from Hong Kong competing in the competition; a fact which reflects the well-organized coaching structure in the Special Administrative Region of China.
Three Hong Kong Players
The other two players from the Hong Kong Association present in Guam are Hung Ka Tak and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, both are on duty for Team Asia.
Players from very different parts of the globe combine to form the World Hopes Team but for Vaness Leung Tsz Ching, one member of the team is no stranger whatsoever.
“Yes, at the Euro Mini Championships a year ago, the one fact that stands out more than any other in my mind is that I played Adina Diaconu in the final”, reminisced Vaness Leung Tsz Ching. “Here in Guam she is my team mate.”
Three Players from One Year Ago
In 2011 both Vaness Leung Tsz Ching and Adriana Diaconu were members of the ITTF World Hopes; they are two of three players from that team, one year ago, who are present in Guam.
The other is Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz who leads the Latin American outfit.
Learn Quickly
All three are not yet teenagers, they are at an age when they learn quickly, they improve quickly.
“I don’t think that I improved anything in particular but a little bit of everything”, said Vaness Leung Tsz Ching. “On the average I believe that all my techniques and skills are better today; what I’m sure of is that I need to work even harder to improve my footwork in the future.”
Grateful for Opportunity
Undoubtedly the young lady from Hong Kong is improving and she is grateful for the opportunity afforded by the ITTF World Hopes Programme.
“The programme has helped me a lot, especially as I’m given opportunities that otherwise I probably wouldn’t have, for example practising and attending events in Europe”, she stressed. “Also, being given the chance to attend the ITTF World Cadet Challenge as a member of the ITTF World Hopes Team, is also very special and a big motivation for all the Hopes players.”
Wider Value
Undoubtedly it is a tremendous experience and for Vaness Leung Tsz Ching it is more than just table tennis; it has a wider social value.
“Another thing that I like a lot is the opportunity to make new friends and also to make up a team with them”, she added. “We have really become friends; we keep in touch and chat regularly on Facebook and this also helps to keep up the motivation.”
The benefits of modern day technology; how did we live when we thought a micro-chip was a small potato?
Enjoying Guam
Certainly after three days of training, Vaness Leung Tsz Ching was in a positive mood and delighted to be in the splendid western Pacific island.
“Generally speaking the thing that impressed me, very strongly was the view from the balcony”, she said.
Vaness Leung Tsz Ching, alongside other teams and officials, is staying in the splendid Sheraton Hotel and the view of the pool with the Pacific in the background is really stunning.
Tough life but somebody has to stay there I suppose!
Valuable Training Camp
“Well, if you ask me about table tennis I enjoyed the training camp a lot as we practised very well and what I also liked very much was the opportunity to practise with players from all the other teams”, added Vaness Leung Tsz Ching. “It’s a great experience!”
Team Spirit
A great experience indeed and there is more that adds to the occasion.
“I must add what makes this experience very nice is the atmosphere in our ITTF World Hopes Team”, concluded Vaness Leung Tsz Ching. “We function as a real team although we come from different countries, from far away continents but we are true friends!”
An Educational Experience
The ITTF World Cadet Challenge, it is more than just a sporting event, it creates understanding, it creates harmony, friendships are formed.
It is a tremendous educational experience; an experience that will last a lifetime.
Article by: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Photo by: Eden Tsu
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