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| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
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TT players need to improve physical and psychological aspects to do well Table Tennis players need to improve the physical and psychological aspects of the individual player if Sri Lanka is to compete at international tournaments and gain better results. This is the candid opinion of former national coach and national champion N. H. Perera. No doubt, stroke for stroke most of the Sri Lankan players are equal with any country in the world. But, the Lankan players fall short in the physical and psychological demands expected. Our players must get used to the finer points. 'N.H.' as he is popularly known in TT circles needs no introduction in Table Tennis. He holds a Diploma in TT coaching, Peking Physical Centre of University, China and Asian Union Table Tennis Association, Osaka, Japan. Here Perera discusses about the various aspects of the game.... The physical aspect: At international level of this game make the most crucial demands on its competitors. In fact greater demands of endurance than in some sports. The energy extended per unit time is greater in Table Tennis. If you consider the body movements for example running, turning jumping crouching and the actual swinging of the arm where all your power is used in each stroke. Considering the team events as many as five matches may be played in a day. No. 1 and No. 2 plays two times and No. 3 plays once. In each team match and may play five team matches in a day. Thus playing resulting No. 1 and No. 2 plays 10 matches each and No. 3 plays five matches. Playing order in team events: A vs X...B vs Y...C vs Z...A vs Y...B vs X. In the individual event one match consist of seven games sometimes nine matches are played in a day if the score is 4-3 total of 63 games (or 36 games at lowest estimate) must be played. This is the kind of physical strain the players have to face in international tournaments. The psychological aspect: It is very essential to have a calm mind that will remain unflustered. In face of unexpected or new techniques, tactics of opponents a player must also have the intelligence to plan and decide on tactics etc during the course of the game. This is because new and unknown players are consistently appearing or that unexpected tactics and techniques are being used. Therefore it is very important to prepare to cope within these unexpected situations. The duration of the game: A set last an average of 10 minutes. So the player must get accustomed to the opponents style in the time and think out how to combat it. Number of strokes in a game...: Suppose the average for each set 11-5 giving a total of 16 points for one set of 32 points for two sets. If there is an average of 5 shots per point then 160 strokes are made during the two sets. So very essential to get used to this and learn to plan the tactics whilst actually playing these strokes. So training should be done to develop the ability to reason out what to do when faced with unexpected strokes, styles etc. Hence I would like to know from the TT authorities what arrangements they have made up to get our players prepared for the forthcoming international competitions or even for South East Asian Games 2005. |
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