Chinese coaching sought

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 16

Chinese coaching sought

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. Miss A. Stonestreet (Auckland) played so well on the recent table tennis tour of China and Japan that the New Zealand team manager (Mr R. J. Rassie) would like her to return to China for at least three months concerted coaching.

In his report to the New Zealand association he will recommend his proposal. Mr Rassie said he had talked to Sung Chung, the secretarygeneral of the All-China Sports Federation, about his idea, but he was told that first it should be taken up with the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand. If Miss Stonestreet went to China she should be accompanied

by a New Zealand companion and, the visit should be of at least I three months, preferably up to. a year. Japan and Europe were also mentioned as possibilities to help the Auckland girl’s advancement, but Mr Rassie returned to New Zealand most Impressed with the Chinese coaching. “They have wonderful trainIng methods and coaching techniques,” he said. “And they place great importance on fitness. “While in China we were fortunate to get some advice from one of the country’s best players Hu So Fa. who has some remarkable service deliveries. “We could only really fo'low him when we saw him on slowmotion television film during the Ysian championships in Yokohama.” The New Zealanders played six matches in China and before each were given the chance to work out tn the morning with their opponents.

I The theme of ‘‘friendship first, i competition second” was contlnu : I ally stressed, however, he sald. r In their first match In Peking,’ the New Zealanders won every) point on their merits. The home players and officials) were anxious to test fully the' ) capabilities of the visitors and. 1 therefore, the singles wins of) I Miss Stonestreet and J. Morris.: ■ were highly creditable. I The Asian championships, said )the Auckland manager, were the ) best organised table tennis event )he had ever attended and he I has been to two world tourna- ) ments I The feat of the New Zealand- ) ers. especially the women, in ) finishing fourth in the teams’ | event, received much praise. So : too, did the effort of Miss Stone- ’ street in reaching the last 16 of ) the Individual event, where she I was eliminated by the eventual • winner