I Dig Sports
The workshop commenced with a welcome by Thomas Weikert, ITTF President, who then passed the floor to Ryu Seungmin.
In his keynote speech on the “Secrets behind a successful Dual Career”, he shared his own journey from athlete to current IOC member. Speaking about training as a child, with the Olympic Games in mind as the ultimate goal, he recalled that he put his determination to become a successful table tennis player before anything else, including a formal education.
He emphasized the important role of the athlete’s entourage, in particular the coaches, in preparing players not only for challenges during their playing career but also for those they will face after they retire. He also shared his own role in educating today’s athletes to prepare for life after sport, as an IOC educator for the Athlete 365 Career Plus programme.
The workshop continued with a Round Table on Education; the panelists being Bruce Burton, Executive Vice President in charge of Development, Ladislav Petrovic, Secretary General of the International Council for Coaching Excellence and Richard Prause, Technical Director of the German Table Tennis Federation. In connection with the newly developed Educational Matrix, the panel discussed the background and structure of a successful educational programme.
Richard Prause addressed the subject of the German coach accreditation system, which blends an online platform with practical skill sessions and examinations. Ladislav Petrovic suggested that since the skills a coach needs are well known, one of the most important things to consider when creating an educational system, is the way coaches learn. He believed an online element was essential. He also stressed the importance of the development of coaching course instructors and that a successful educational structure relies heavily on these educators.
Ramon Ortega Montes, ITTF Head of Education, explained the plan for the creation of new courses and a new structure that would be truly global; the aim to have a globally recognized coach accreditation system that will make a move from one country to another an easy process.
The Round Table was followed by a group work session. Four groups each discussed a dedicated topic. The impact of social media on participation and education, the biggest challenges and best practices for women’s development and the main components a national association’s strategic plan. In addition the subject of a national high performance pathway, with ITTF High Performance and Development staff acting as facilitators was addressed.
Although not being able to attend the workshop in person, Italian social media expert Marco Montemagno prepared a video message addressing national associations as well as players and coaches about the different strategies to raise their profile and engage their audience on social media.
The workshop concluded with a farewell address by Steve Dainton, ITTF Chief Executive Officer; he thanked everyone who attended and expressed his hope to see everyone again next year in Busan!
Budapest, a learning field for Indian teenager
After winning the boys’ singles title at the 2018 Australian Junior and Cadet Open, since that time Manav Vikash Thakkar has become an integral member of the Indian team.
“I now realise that playing at top level is a bit more difficult than being a junior player. It is more of tactics at this level and in every match, you have to strategise for each game; this happened to me in the preliminary round when I was playing against Leonardo Mutti. I led 2-0 but he caught up with me at 2-2. It goes to show that he must have changed something; this is what I am learning at this level. Manav Vikash Thakkar
Undoubtedly, for Manav Vikash Thakkar, playing in the main hall will be forever cherished.
“I was a bit nervous when I played in the main hall but I really enjoyed every moment of the match because I was playing in front of the large crowd with colourful lighting,” he added.
A quarter-finalist at the 2018 World Junior Championships believes training in Saarbrucken, Germany and Copenhagen in Denmark, helped to prepare him for the Budapest challenge.
“I am happy with my performance in my first World Championships. I had only spent six months with the Indian senior team and I had featured in several top class tournaments. We had camps in Germany and Denmark and this really helped me to do well in Budapest. It was a good experience playing against Robert Gardos in the main draw, for me I think this is indeed a learning curve. I will continue to work hard.” Manav Vikash Thakkar
Step by step, Manav Vikash Thakkar is adjusting to life in the world’s major tournaments.
“My first experience with the Indian team was at the Asian Games. Although I did not play I was with the team when we won the bronze medal. The event really opened my eyes to what lies ahead of me, as I become part of a great Indian team. Budapest has given me motivation to work harder because I have come across players with different styles of play. It is an experience that will again fire me up in my training. Now I know I need to be at my best if I hope to make a name for myself in the sport.” Manav Vikash Thakkar
Impressed with the setting in Budapest, it has been an eye opening venture to Hungary’s capital city.
“My coming to Budapest has been a good experience because I have never played in such an atmosphere. The second hall where I played most of my matches was closer to the training hall and there was no similarity between the two halls and this for was a good experience. I enjoyed myself and I hope to be back at this stage again.” Manav Vikash Thakkar
Leandro Olvech, ITTF Foundation Director, presented six programmes, selected as prime examples to develop the sport in the best interests of mankind.
“We will launch multiple projects but in the long term but we do not see ourselves just as a factory of projects. We want to be seen as an inspiration and a model to persuade other organisations to change their minds and keep social responsibility high on their agendas. In every step we will showcase the best cases able to be replicated by others.
Of course, we have plenty of ideas and will support a lot of projects in the future but our work is not just about engaging new projects but about the sustainability of each and its replicability! We are looking for role model projects that can be copied by others.” Leandro Olvech
Role model projects include Dream Building in Uganda “Honecric” and “Slum Ping Pong” from Robert Jjagwe, the President of the Uganda Table Tennis Association. Highlighting legacy, “Buenos Aires – Tokyo” from Fernando Joffre, President of the Argentina Table Tennis Federation, attracts the attention; as for Ping Pong Diplomacy does “One Korea, One Table” from Ryu Seungmin, the 2004 Olympic Games gold medallist and now member of the International Olympic Committee. Furthermore, he is the ITTF Foundation Ambassador.
In the category TT4Health, the concept of Ping Pong Parkinson by Nenad Bach, a celebrated Croatian celebrated musician now living in New York, set the standard.
Pertinently, Ryu Seungmin presented images from behind the scenes showcasing the emotional meeting of North and South Korean players before competing as a unified team in Halmstad, Sweden. He recalled the words of Moon Joe-In, President of South Korea who stated the fact that a “small table tennis ball brought the South and the North together” and how important that was and is for the whole peninsula.
Shortly after, Nenad Bach stressed the importance of how table tennis can influence other aspects of life, in his case Parkinson disease and how important the work of the ITTF Foundation is for all those most in need.
Matters concluded with those present being afforded the chance to pose questions; notably Leandro Olvech stressed global reach in order to allay concerns that the initiatives were focused only on third world countries.
“The ITTF Foundation is a world-wide acting organisation, present in all 226 member countries. Its core area lays not in one or another country but in presenting sample cases that can be replicated in other parts of the world.” Leandro Olvech
Heartening words that endorse: table tennis for all, for life.
Topsy Ojo: London Irish legend to retire after 16 years with club
Former England winger Topsy Ojo is to retire at the end of this season after 16 years with London Irish.
Ojo will make his farewell home appearance at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday against Ealing Trailfinders.
The 33-year-old is the Exiles' all-time record appearance maker and try scorer, having made his debut in October 2005.
"It has been a privilege to play for this club and I'm grateful that I've been able to do so for so long," Ojo told the club's website.
Ojo will take on an ambassadorial role for Irish, who secured promotion back to the Premiership last weekend, as they prepare to move to their new home at the Brentford Community Stadium next summer.
He added: "I'm very proud of the milestones and the records I've achieved that will hopefully stand for a long, long time.
"I am also delighted that the club is back in the Premiership with a positive future on the horizon, and even though I won't be on the pitch any more, hopefully I can continue to make an impact off it."
Ojo first joined the club's academy in 2003 and went on to become an established member of the London Irish backline, playing in a Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse in 2008 and a Premiership final in 2009.
He scored twice on his Test debut against New Zealand in 2008 but only made one further England appearance.
Exeter players reminded over social media posts after Israel Folau affair
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says he has advised his players about their responsibilities on social media in the wake of the Israel Folau affair.
The full-back was sacked by Rugby Australia after a social media post in which he said "hell awaits" gay people.
England forward Billy Vunipola was reprimanded by the RFU after defending the post and was confronted by a fan in Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final.
"We've reminded the players about that," Baxter told BBC Sport.
"If you make a statement on social media, you're effectively making a statement just like I'm making one today to members of the press.
"It's all very well claiming it's your own opinion and the value you have of your own opinion and how much right you have to give your own opinion, but actually if you put it out there publicly you're making a statement about yourself."
The boss of the Premiership leaders added that players need to be aware that they are role models.
Baxter said: "The world is a different place now and we need to make sure that young sportsmen in particular just have an understanding that their opinions can be taken as statements of fact if they want to express them in that way.
"Most people don't say things deliberately in a bad context, but it's a reminder that they are important and influential people, and if you are an important and influential person you've got a responsibility about the things that you say."
Lood de Jager: Sale Sharks sign 6ft 9in South Africa lock on three-year deal
Sale Sharks have signed South Africa second-row forward Lood de Jager from Super Rugby side Bulls.
De Jager, 26, has agreed a three-year deal and will link up with Sale before the 2019-20 Premiership season or, if selected, after the World Cup.
"It is a great honour for me to join Sale Sharks," De Jager, who is 6ft 9in, told the club's website.
"They are a club with great tradition, really high ambitions and they are building something really special."
Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond added: "Lood is a world-class line-out operator with lots of experience at the highest level and offers a huge physical presence around the pitch.
"His signing is a statement of intent in our endeavour to become a force in the Premiership and Europe over the next three years."
Leinster & Saracens players make up European shortlist
Five players from Champions Cup finalists Leinster and Saracens comprise the entire shortlist for the EPCR European Player of the Year award.
Leinster's nominees are Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose, while Saracens have Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola.
Leone Nakarawa of Racing 92 won in 2018.
The winner will be named following the European Champions Cup final at St James' Park on 11 May.
The chosen player will receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.
Leinster are seeking to defend the Champions Cup and win it for a fifth time overall.
SPRINGFIELD, Mich. — When you ask a car guy, why he collects cars, the answer is generally because of a dedication to a certain brand or a memory that the car triggers.
For Jeff Begg, it was the love of engineering. Growing up in Michigan with the “Big Three” car manufacturers close by, there was always a car event or race in the area. Begg had many memories of fixing cars to race them later that night or just cruising. It was all this automotive activity that triggered his love of engineering and led to his creating what is now known as the JAB Collection.
Begg went to college for engineering and then went to work for Parker Hannifin as an engineer in the company’s hydraulics division. In 1976, he left and started his own business in the basement of his dad’s veterinary clinic.
His first product was a basic wooden battery box for Clark Forklifts. Begg loved British motorcycles. He would say, “Anyone can have an Indian, but a British bike is special.”
He saw them as engineering marvels and in-turn honored his love of British and unique bikes by naming his companies after them. Marshall Excelsior Company, was the name of his first company, after Excelsior Henderson motorcycles. The company grew forcing him to move out of the basement into a Quonset building next to the in Marshall, Mich.
Pictures, video and an inventory list of the JAB Collection are available from www.vanderbrinkauctions.com, or by calling 605-201-7005. Everything will be sold on June 15.
Begg began producing propane fittings and valves. The Quonset building was a good starting point, but wasn’t the best or prettiest location. Begg was often at odds with the city of Marshall, which owned the building. They saw it as an eyesore and wanted it gone.
Eventually, the city evicted him and in exchange sold him a lot in a nearby industrial park for $1.
In 1999, he built a new building for his business on that same lot.
Begg wasn’t one to draw attention to himself, but through some unusual twists he became known as John Begg, which was his younger brother’s name, in the propane world. He would be at trade shows and his girlfriend would call him Jeff and nobody would know who that was.
Not only did he get a kick out that, he was able to keep some anonymity. It wasn’t till he sold the business in 2017, that he told his brother about the charade.
As the business grew, he acquired more product lines and businesses to better serve his customers. If you ever used a propane tank, one of his fittings, valves or regulators was probably on it. He acquired part of Lincoln Brass Works and named this company after another British Motorcycle — Matchless Valve Company.
Begg was extremely competitive and wanted always to be on the cutting edge. He found out a competing business in town had developed a machine to make similar fittings cheaper. Not backing down or settling for second place, he grabbed one of his engineers and marched into their plant and started taking notes until they were shown the door by security.
If you met Begg on the street, you’d have never known he was a hugely successful business man. Most of the time, he was in tattered or stained clothes driving an old Cadillac. He constantly surrounded himself with books and education.
His mind was going 50 different directions all the time. He had a daughter, Megan, and to be better at “girl time,” he would read gossip mags and learn what she liked. If she liked a particular film, he would learn about it and take her to see it. She was the love of his life and enjoyed spending time with her.
It was crazy, this rough around the edges man would bring her the perfect dress and know everything about it. He was excited to learn he was going to be a grandpa, but sadly died a month before the birth.
Begg lost his wife, Barbara, in 2003. She was an enthusiastic eBay buyer, so he had to close out her affairs. Little did he know that process would start a new love — the thrill of being the “winning bidder.”
Glasson Back With Win-Tron For Charlotte ARCA Race
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – After sitting out the first portion of the season to focus on his education, Cole Glasson is ready to get back in a race car.
The 18-year-old, who has maintained a 4.0 GPA at Liberty University, will make his second ARCA Menards Series start on May 23 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Win-Tron Racing.
Glasson’s race car will carry support from Sparrow Ranch on the Island and AM Technical Solutions.
“I’ve been busy focusing on my education, but I’m excited to get back in a race car to compete at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May,” said Glasson. “With summer coming up I knew I wanted to get back to racing, so I can’t thank Kevin Cywinski and Win-Tron Racing enough for having me back for another race.”
Glasson made his ARCA Menards Series debut last year driving for Win-Tron Racing in the season finale at Kansas Speedway. He raced in the top-10 throughout the evening, and was in the top-five late in the race when he ran through some fluid on the track and bounced off the wall.
Despite the damage, Glasson managed to pilot his No. 33 Chevrolet to a 10th-place finish in his first ARCA start. He’ll look to improve upon that finish on May 23 at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the General Tire 150.
In preparation, Glasson is scheduled to take part in the ARCA Menards Series open test at Charlotte on May 7.
“We had such a fast car last year at Kansas,” added Glasson. “We should have finished in the top-five, but that contact with the wall late in the race cost us. I know Win-Tron Racing is capable of preparing incredible race cars and I have no doubt I’ll be able to do that again when we get to Charlotte.”
Between now and his second ARCA start Glasson is going to remain busy. He still has a few weeks left of school before summer vacation starts.
Once he’s out of school for the summer he’ll rejoin Lee Faulk Racing and Development – the same team that he has raced late models for in years past – for a test before he competes at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on May 11.
“I’ve really missed being in a race car,” Glasson said. “On top of getting to run the ARCA race at Charlotte I also plan to run a few races with LFR in a Late Model when my schedule allows.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to add a few more ARCA races to my schedule this summer, but for now we’re going to focus on Charlotte.”
Win-Tron Racing team owner Kevin Cywinski is excited to have Glasson back on the team after his strong debut last fall at Kansas.
“Cole did an incredible job in his first ARCA race with us last year, so I’m thrilled to welcome him back for another race at Charlotte in May,” offered Cywinski. “We’ll get him up to speed during the open test in a few weeks and based on his effort at Kansas, we’re confident he’ll be competitive again at Charlotte. He’s a smart young man, so we know he’ll do a great job.”