\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJuly 16, 2025 | Paul Stimpson<\/p>\n
The Elite Training Centre will host the ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge from 13-19 October and Dora Jeter, Head of Operations, High Performance & Education at the International Table Tennis Federation visited Sheffield ahead of the city welcoming the biggest talent identification programme in world table tennis.<\/p>\n
Dora took time out to speak to us about the programme, which sees the best under-12 talents from all over the world come through continental qualifying to take their place at the event.<\/p>\n
Up to 20 boys and 20 girls, as well as\u00a0around 40 coaches, will arrive in Sheffield for a week of intensive training and international collaboration, culminating in the Challenge competition on the final two days.<\/p>\n
Dora said: \u201cIt gives both players and coaches the opportunity of connecting with other players and coaches, it gives them the opportunity to co-operate with high-level experts that are leading the training camps.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also an opportunity for the kids to connect and make friends with kids from other countries and other continents. Sometimes they don\u2019t speak the same language, but they can still connect and they make it work and they become friends for life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hopes Programme has helped launch the careers of some of the sport\u2019s brightest stars, including Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Truls Moregard\u00a0of Sweden and Adriana Diaz, the world top-20 player from Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n