Table tennis: Singapore Table Tennis Association overhauls youth programme
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Chua Siang Yee
The Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) announced on Monday an overhaul of its youth development programme in a bid to "attract the best local talents and create a strong pipeline of local talents for Singapore table tennis".
With effect from Jan 1 next year, the STTA will start a new Youth Training Squad (YTS) featuring players aged 13 to 18.
Places in the YTS will be contested by the top-eight singles players in the Under-15 and U-18 category of STTA co-organized tournaments, such as the SAFRA-STTA Table Tennis Championships, Dr. Ng Eng Hen - STTA Table Tennis Championships and Dr. Lee Bee Wah Cup - STTA Table Tennis Championships.
They will compete in selection trials, to be held annually during the first week of January. The top five U-15 and U-18 boys and girls will then be invited to train with the YTS for a year.
The current STTA Youth Development Squad will also be renamed the "Junior Development Squad", featuring players from the ages 9-12.
