Muscat, (ONA) - The Oman Table Tennis Association gave a visual presentation on the development of women's table tennis in the Sultanate at the symposium organized by the International Table Tennis Federation represented by the Department of High Performance and Development via video conferencing, which coincided with the Sultanate’s celebrations of the eleventh anniversary of the Omani Women's Day, which coincides with the 17th of October every year.
Sajjad bin Muhammad Baqer, Vice Chairman of the Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA), gave a thorough explanation on the stages of development of women's table tennis at the local level. The presentation began by introducing the participants to the Sultanate’s government’s interest in women and allocating a day for Omani women, specifically on the seventeenth of October of each year, to celebrate their achievements, their unlimited giving in various fields and their pivotal role as a basic partner in the process of construction and development. Sajjad pointed out that the female members of the Oman Table Tennis made great efforts in promoting and developing the game in the Sultanate, whether players, coaches or referees, wishing them to complete the march and make more tender to achieve all the goals set for the advancement of the game at the local, regional and international levels.
The Vice Chairperson of the Oman Table Tennis Association then touched on the efforts of the OTTA in 2014 - the Oman Table Tennis Committee at that time - to develop women's table tennis through partnership with public and private schools through the Ministry of Education as well as the Oman School Sports Association. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two associations to bring about further development and modernization of table tennis at the level of male and female students and to find more female and male coaches affiliated with school sports and to qualify them in the field of table tennis.
Sajjad bin Mohammed Baqer reviewed the STAG Table Tennis Tournament for Girls project, which was launched in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the Omani Union for School Sports and the International Stag Company. Among those targeted for the project were female students under the age of 12 in all public and private schools, as well as physical sports teachers.
The Vice Chairman of the OTTA said, “Some figures and statistics for the years 2018 and 2019 indicates the increase in the percentage of female students and teachers participating in the STAG Table Tennis Tournament for Girls project. The number of beneficiaries of the project reached more than 285 schools in various governorates and wilayats of the Sultanate, in addition to 698 male and female players and 290 teachers and schools benefiting from the program. In addition, 15 distinguished players were selected within the training centres, as well as two of the players were chosen for the West Asia Age Group Games last January.
In his speech, he indicated that the current year included a number of plans and programs developed for female students, trainers and referees, including launching courses and seminars for newcomers to participate and join Omani table tennis, but the Covid-19 pandemic affected all programs and plans that were postponed until the health situation stabilized.
Regarding its future programs and vision, Sajjad bin Muhammad Baqer, Vice Chairman of the Oman Table Tennis Association, affirmed that in 2023 the OTTA seeks to increase the number of referees by 30% and the contribution of referees in the World Pioneer Championship of Table Tennis, which the Sultanate will host in 2023, in addition to increasing the number of female athletes in the Sultanate’s national table tennis team to include 40 to 50 players, choosing three women to participate in international tournaments, organizing three women's table tennis tournaments, and qualifying five Omani women coaches in the field of table tennis.
Those in charge of the High Performance and Development Department of the Oman Table Tennis Association praised the efforts made by the Oman Table Tennis Association, wishing for the association to continue in such programs and urge more players, referees and coaches to engage in such courses and programs and also work on developing programs and projects as appropriate in order to achieve the technical improvement required for the game.
(ONA)