The Tiger from Arad The Tiger from Arad The King of the ... - ITTF

A HAPPY FACE IN A CROWDED PLACE
ITTF GLOBAL JUNIOR PROGRAMME
A happy face in a crowded place
I must admit that I am fascinated
with the Sphinx.
For more than 4000 years she
has been guarding those pyramids,
with the first beams of the
sun, each and every morning
landing right on her nose.
Personally I was hooked from
the very first time I laid my
eyes on her, during a coach conductor
assignment for the ITTF
back in June 1998, not only by
the Great Sphinx herself, but also
on Egypt and Cairo.
WRITTEN BY: MIKAEL ANDERSSON, PHOTO: CARLOS ALONZO
The Egyptian Table Tennis Association
has always been one of the
front runners in Africa when it comes
to producing and promoting junior
table tennis. It is true that the development
work and planning process are not
always in total sync, yet there is activity
and opportunities arising all the time.
IN DECEMBER 2006 we will have the ITTF World
Junior Championships coming to the African
continent for the first time. It is no
doubt an important development victory
for the ITTF and for the African Table
Tennis Federation.
In the last few years I have seen African
Table Tennis grow and rise with the ITTF
Global Junior Programme. The enthusi-
14 • ITTF GLOBAL JUNIOR PROGRAMME
astic spirit brought on by management,
coaches and the young athletes representing
the African Cadet Team at the World
Cadet Challenge has been fantastic to
watch.
ONE OF THE LEADING young athletes, always representing
a forward looking and optimistic
attitude is Reem El Shoubary from
Egypt.
Twice a participant in the ITTF WCC
and now also a frequent and successful
athlete on the ITTF World Junior Circuit,
she has a certain swagger and self confidence
surrounding her. More than
anything she is a good, open minded representative
and a leader for female
youth and junior players in Africa.
A happy face in a crowded place!