The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level 1 Coach Education Programme commenced on Monday, 7 July at Prometheus School, Noida, bringing together 22 physical education teachers, school coaches, and aspiring table tennis coaches from across India for a globally recognised certification. The five-day programme, organised by the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO) in partnership with the International School Sport Federation (ISF) Academy and ITTF, will conclude on Friday, 11 July.

Programme Structure and Curriculum

The certification is being led by Christina Chee of Thailand, an internationally accredited ITTF educator. Participants are progressing through a blend of classroom sessions and practical on-table coaching modules covering coaching fundamentals, technical skill development, session planning, player progression pathways, and fostering positive learning environments for young athletes.

The curriculum is designed to align with internationally accepted coaching methodologies and athlete development principles, with a direct focus on strengthening sport at the school level.

What the Organisers Said

Christina Chee, the programme's lead educator, said, 'Coach education plays a vital role in building a strong sporting ecosystem. By empowering teachers and coaches with internationally recognised knowledge and practical coaching techniques, we are creating better learning environments for young players. It is encouraging to see such enthusiasm from educators in India, and I hope this programme helps inspire the next generation of table tennis athletes.'

Gaurav Dixit, Co-Director of ISSO, said, 'At ISSO, we are committed to creating meaningful sporting opportunities for students by empowering the educators who guide them every day. Our collaboration with the ISF Academy and ITTF reflects our vision of bringing world-class coach education to India and strengthening grassroots table tennis. By equipping teachers and coaches with internationally recognised coaching methodologies, we are laying the foundation for the holistic development of young athletes across schools.'

ISSO's Broader School Sports Push

The ITTF programme is the latest in a series of international coach education initiatives delivered by ISSO. In recent months, the organisation has run globally recognised coaching programmes in collaboration with FIBA, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), and Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters), and has also partnered with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) to expand sporting access in schools.

On the student-athlete front, ISSO recently sent an Indian contingent to the ISF Basketball Championship 2026 in Serbia, providing international competitive exposure to school-level players.

Why This Matters for Grassroots Table Tennis

India has historically produced competitive table tennis talent, yet structured coach education at the school level has remained inconsistent. Programmes of this kind — offering internationally benchmarked certification to practising PE teachers — directly address that gap. Notably, this is part of a wider trend of global sporting federations deepening their engagement with India's school sports ecosystem, reflecting the country's growing profile as a development market for youth sport.

With the programme set to conclude on Friday, certified participants are expected to carry these methodologies back to schools across the country, potentially influencing coaching practices for thousands of young players.