For the second time, young Europeans aged 13 to 16 are practicing in a joint Eurospins camp with their peers from South Korea. Last December it was in Asia, in the beautiful Jeju Island, this time the players met in Havířov in Czechia. And the Koreans are very satisfied with the environment in the National Training Center. This was confirmed in an interview by the Secretary General of the Korean Table Tennis Association, KIM Minseok.
How do you like the conditions in this training center?
“I have to say that we are very pleasantly surprised. The conditions are really excellent. There are enough tables, perfect lighting and a high-quality surface. Overall, the environment is at a very high level. We have ten young players from South Korea here and they are all very satisfied. It is not just about the hall itself, but also about the overall facilities, hospitality and other available services. The entire complex looks very professional and creates ideal conditions for a training camp that lasts approximately ten days.”
What do you think about the cooperation project between ETTU and the Korean Table Tennis Association?
“We consider this project to be very beneficial, both for European and Korean young players. First of all, I would like to thank the initiators of the whole event: the ETTU Executive Board and the ETTU Vice President Jaroslaw Kolodziejczyk, as well as the members of the Korean Table Tennis Association for the initiative and implementation of this project. The European coaches welcomed us very warmly, which we greatly appreciate. This experience is extremely important for our young players. In South Korea, the players have a similar level and train together every day, so it is difficult for them to objectively assess their own performance.
Thanks to this international project, they have the opportunity to confront the European style of play and better understand their level in a global context. Moreover, we perceive that the level of European table tennis, especially among men, has increased significantly in recent years. Therefore, it is very valuable for us to observe how European players develop their skills, how the coaches work and what conditions are available for them.”
Do you think it is sufficient that the players meet for approximately 10 days once every six months?
“Unfortunately, more frequent meetings are not possible due to the busy international calendar. However, we consider the format of joint training lasting 8-10 days to be very suitable and effective. Unlike short events, longer concentration allows not only high-quality training, but also better understanding of the players, comparison of performance and adaptation to different playing styles.
European players can be inspired by the Korean approach, and Korean players can adopt some elements of European training. This mutual exchange of experience is one of the greatest values of the entire project.”
Do you plan to continue this project in the future?
“Yes, definitely. We would like this project to become an annual tradition. We are planning another meeting in Korea in September, where we will discuss the continuation of cooperation. At the same time, we would like to keep the date in Europe during the Easter period, when the players have school holidays, which makes the organisation easier. Of course, we will also adapt to our possibilities. The goal is to create a stable and long-term program that will be beneficial for both parties. I would like to emphasize that although the project was initiated by specific individuals, it is a joint effort of multiple organisations and partners.”
More pictures here.
