ISSO, ISF Academy, ITTF bring International Coach Education Programme to India
Noida, July 8
In a significant step towards strengthening grassroots table tennis and enhancing the quality of physical education in schools, the International Schools Sports Organisation, in collaboration with the International School Sport Federation Academy and the International Table Tennis Federation, successfully commenced the ITTF Level 1 Coach Education Programme at Prometheus School, Noida.
The five-day international certification programme started on July 6 and will conclude on July 10, 2026, as per a press release.
The programme has brought together 22 Physical Education educators, school coaches, and aspiring table tennis coaches from across the country to receive globally recognised coaching education. The initiative is aimed at equipping educators with internationally accepted coaching methodologies, athlete development principles, and modern teaching practices to strengthen school-level sports.
The programme is being conducted by Christina Chee (Thailand), an internationally acclaimed ITTF educator, who is leading participants through both classroom sessions and practical on-table coaching modules. The curriculum focuses on coaching fundamentals, technical skill development, session planning, player progression, and creating a positive learning environment for young athletes.
Speaking about the initiative, Christina Chee, ITTF 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."
Echoing the sentiment, Gaurav Dixit, Co-Director of the International School Sports Organisation (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."
The ITTF Level 1 Coach Education Programme marks another significant milestone in ISSO's continued efforts to elevate school sports in India through international collaborations and world-class education. In recent months, ISSO has successfully delivered globally recognised coach education programmes in partnership with leading international sporting bodies including FIBA, BWF and Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters), while also expanding sporting opportunities through strategic initiatives such as its partnership with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
Beyond coach education, ISSO continues to provide international exposure to student-athletes by recently sending the Indian contingent to the ISF Basketball Championship 2026 in Serbia. Through these initiatives, ISSO continues to strengthen its vision of building globally aligned sporting pathways for students, educators and coaches across India's international school ecosystem.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's good to see international standards coming to India, but 22 coaches seems like a very small number for a country this size. We need scale - maybe online modules or regional training hubs? Every district should have at least one ITTF-certified coach if we want to find the next Sharath Kamal.
As a parent whose child loves table tennis, this is such welcome news! 🏓 Our school doesn't even have a proper TT coach - just a sir who knows the basics. If this programme trains teachers who then train more teachers, it could create a ripple effect. ISSO is doing great work connecting Indian schools with global sports bodies.
The partnership with PGTI (golf) and ISF Basketball is interesting - ISSO seems to be going beyond just one sport. But I hope table tennis doesn't get lost in the mix. TT has huge potential in India with equipment being relatively affordable. Let's see if these certified coaches actually produce better players in the coming years.
Great initiative but I have a small concern - the programme is only 5 days! Can you really become a proper Level 1 coach in that time? ITTF standards are usually more rigorous. Hope this is just an introduction and there are follow-up modules. Our kids deserve depth, not just a certificate on the wall.
Finally! 🙌 As a PE teacher myself, I've always felt inadequate coaching specialised sports like TT with just my general training. These international certifications will give us credibility and proper methodology. The fact that it's happening in Noida means I can actually attend without traveling
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