The Sunday Mail
THE Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union (ZTTU) has hailed a partnership with the “right people” following the inaugural Chinese Ambassador’s Cup tournament in Harare last week.
The Zimbabwe national team played against Chinese nationals based in Zimbabwe in a development that ZTTU president John Muringani says breathed new life into table tennis.
“It was a great initiative, we did well to partner with the world’s greatest country in this sport,” said Muringani.
“This partnership will yield good results and I am pretty happy with the international standard we had in almost everything regarding this tournament.”
Muringani is now looking at how Zimbabwe can assemble a formidable national side.
“We are looking at how best our athletes can be promoted and developed to be among the top in the region, continentally and play in some of the international events.
“Such partnerships will help us achieve it because we have partnered the right people and I am glad this will be an annual event,” Muringani said.
The ZTTU president hinted that some promising local players will be sent to China for further training.
“It’s still verbal, but we hope it happens so that we gain experience.
“I think more people are realising that sport can be a vehicle to take you around the world,” he said.
Last week’s action saw Zimbabwe’s legend Vikram Singh clinching the mens singles gold medal, Zhang Xiongfeng winning silver while Li Jun and Brian Chamboko settled for the bronze medal.
The women’s singles title went to Zhan Yang and Mercy Kazembe coming second ahead of Yun Feng and Cindy Chinomona.
The Chinese men’s team beat Zimbabwe in the team event while it was jubilation for the Zimbabwe ladies team.
