CHENNAI: THE years 2013 and 2014 were not the best in terms of results for table tennis in the country. The national team failed to build on their 2010 Commonwealth Games showing and Peter Engel was duly shown the door. However, it was not all doom and gloom during the German’s tenure. He was one of the first to introduce a strict fitness program for all the paddlers. Something that the paddlers are reaping benefits from even now.
“Peter told me to work on my fitness. I was 30 and was struggling with my game. Reducing my weight and working hard on my fitness helped me improve even more,” India ace Mouma Das said.
That’s not the end of it. Peter was a keen advocate of foreign exposure and was the first person to talk of starting a league structure in India for the benefit of Indian paddlers as they are reluctant to go abroad. “If you keep playing against the same players during Nationals and camps, how will you improve? Indians need to play against a variety of styles. Only then will their overall game improve. Players should start going out a lot earlier. Players like Soumyajit (Ghosh) and G Sathiyan are doing the right thing,” the 63-year-old told Express.
Most of the top Indian male paddlers have been playing abroad, something Peter feels has definitely helped them improve their overall game. However, he agreed that Indians tend to try and copy either the European style of play or the Chinese model. “I believe copying another style is not the way forward. Indians need to create a style of their own. The same style should start from the grassroots,” the former Dutch national coach added.
People tend to think foreign coaches are miracle workers, who will come and remedy the ills of a system and create champions in a short span of time. The reality is not that. However, Peter does not regret his decision of coaching the national team. “There is a lot of talent in the country. If they want, they can become world beaters for sure. My time as coach was short and I tried my best to develop a unique style of play. “Indians, especially, the men are doing well in the world. The new crop is also talented. Exciting times lie ahead for the sport,” Peter added.
On the Ultimate Table Tennis league, where he is coach of the RP-SG Mavericks, Peter has been impressed with the overall standards. He is also getting another chance of coaching A Sharath Kamal, the team skipper. “Sharath has improved even more, especially his backhand. Credit goes to him for keeping on working hard. I had spoken of starting a league in the country and it’s great to see the UTT take off.
“Foreign players are coming and youngsters can learn so much just by being around experienced professionals. If the league duration improves, the UTT can be a real game-changer,” he signed off.
Maharashtra United win
Maharashtra United’s Harmeet Desai beat World No 23 Stefan Fegerl before clinching his mixed doubles tie against Sharath Kamal. Despite a late surge, the SG Mavericks fell short of the mark as they lost 11-16.
Results: RP-SG Mavericks 11-16 Maharashtra United (RP-SG Mavericks first)
Stefan Fegerl lost to Harmeet Desai 6-11, 11-9, 6-11; Archana Girish Kamath lost to Fu Yu 3-11, 6-11, 11-9; A Sharath Kamal/Sofia Polcanova lost to Harmeet Desai/Liu Jia 11-10, 7-11, 10-11; Stefan Fegerl lost to Joao Monteiro 3-11, 4-11, 9-11; Sabine Winter lost to Liu Jia 9-11, 8-11, 10-11; A Sharath Kamal bt Wong Chun Ting 11-5, 11-6, 8-11; Sabine Winter bt Krittwika Sinha Roy 11-8, 11-7, 11-4; Tiago Apolonia lost to Wong Chun Ting 8-11, 11-6, 9-11; Sofia Polcanova bt Fu Yu 11-9, 7-11, 11-6..