Aspire Academy will host the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Hopes Week & Challenge from today till June 4 at the Aspire Dome.  
The challenge week is an important component of the ITTF’s Hopes programme, an initiative designed to build the popularity of table tennis and encourage its growth and development around the world.
The primary goal of the programme is to support national table tennis associations in identifying talented young players and enhancing their chances of future success. The programme also supports the professional development of coaches, reflecting their vitally important role in the development of future talent.
The ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge will see 32 boys and girls from around the world, including two from Qatar, engaging in an intensive week of training at the Academy. This culminates in a series of challenge matches due to take place on Saturday June 4 in the Aspire Table Tennis Hall.
The results of these challenges combined with an assessment based on a specific set of criteria will enable the ITTF to select four boys and four girls from the group to take part in a subsequent training camp, and to compete at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge taking place in Shanghai from October 21-29, 2016.
During the week, the visiting coaches will also engage in a number of sessions with the Academy’s Sports Science department designed to boost their knowledge and understanding in relation to topics including talent identification, the development of technical skills and other important aspects that are critical to the development of the sport.
Commenting on the event, Markus Egger, Director of Strategy and Acting Director of Sports at Aspire Academy said: “We’re delighted to host the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation World Hopes Week & Challenge as part of our ongoing cooperation with the Qatar Table Tennis Association and the International Table Tennis Federation.
“Hosting such events directly supports our mission at Aspire Academy to identify and develop well-educated sports champions. Enabling the growth of sports such as table tennis also underpins our vision to be recognised by 2020 as the world’s leading sports academy in the development of young athletes.”
Aspire Academy first opened its doors in 2004 and is considered to be one of the leading sports institutions in the Middle East. The Academy offers an integrated educational programme of sports development, sports science and academic learning to boys aged 12 to 18. The school develops well-educated sports champions and aims to become the world’s leading sports academy for young athletes by 2020.