PRESS RELEASE

Table Tennis New Zealand Receives Funding for Development Programmes for Disabled Table Tennis Players.

 

ASB Community Trust today backed Table Tennis New Zealand’s disabled athlete development programme with the provision of a grant for the delivery of a wheelchair table tennis programme and a development programme for disabled children.

“The goal of ASB Community Trust is to provide funding for worthwhile initiatives that deliver services to parts of the community that may be disadvantaged.  The wheelchair table tennis programme and disabled children’s table tennis programme assist in providing significant physical and social development skills to participants” said Trust CEO Jennifer Gill.

The programme, which has been piloted at the Auckland Table Tennis Association and includes coaching from Commonwealth Games team member Shane Laugesen and New Zealand Men’s National Coach Aaron Li, provides disabled students and adults with specialised coaching in table tennis that quickly develops eye/hand coordination, and the necessary skills to play the sport of Table Tennis.  The Auckland programme will be further developed and delivered to more than twice the number of pilot participants, in anticipation of a nationwide programme.

The wheelchair table tennis programme, to be developed in conjunction with Paralympics New Zealand and Halberg Trust, is designed to provide new participants with coaching in basic skills, with potential high performers identified early and fast tracked to specific training groups in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Paralympics New Zealand CEO Craig Hobbs stated “This initiative from Table Tennis New Zealand further assists in the development of athletes and provides the necessary pathways required for New Zealand disabled athletes to become medal winning Paralympians.”

“Table Tennis New Zealand is very grateful for the support of our partners ASB Trusts, Paralympics New Zealand and Halberg Trust  in developing and delivering programmes that increase our participation base and reach, while at the same time delivering significant benefits to participants of the programmes” said Table Tennis New Zealand CEO Mike Loftus.

(ENDS)