National paddlers visit four schools as part of outreach programme

SINGAPORE: Five national paddlers took a break from training on Thursday to spend time with students. The local school visits are intended to share the spirit of good sportsmanship and inspire the youngsters to pick up the game.

Pathlight School, which caters to autistic kids, was one of the four schools the paddlers visited, and there was lots of excitement as the students gamely took on the pros in friendly competition.

The table tennis ambassadors included rising star Clerence Chew, Feng Tianwei, Yu Mengyu, Isablle Li and Yang Zi.

Previous school visits seem to have helped promote the sport.

Lee Bee Wah, president of the Singapore Table Tennis Associate, said: "Since four years ago, we have been actively looking into expanding our zone training centres. Originally we had four. I am very happy that today, we have seven and certainly we would like to have more zone training centres.

"I am in discussions with the Singapore Sports Council and they are also very supportive, so we are exploring new venues for new zone training centres."

—CNA/ac