The Indian table tennis team has been training individually with different coaches and the head coach has been away for six years.
According to a PTI report, India's top table tennis players will soon have a head coach in Italian Massimo Costantini after a gap of six years. Costantini is the long-time coach of the Indian team and was last associated with the team in 2016-18, with his first season dating back to 2009-10.
The veteran saw India win its first medal in table tennis at the Asian Games. According to a TTFI official, the Italian could play for an extended period, starting just months before the Olympics, with the Sports Authority of India on a four-year contract.
Indian table tennis coach
Meanwhile, three other foreign names are also in the running, but Costantini turns out to be more favored. “The SAI could approve Max’s application as early as next week. The Olympics are fast approaching and the sooner he joins the team, the better. All the players love him and that should work in his favor,” the official said.
While the Indian men's and women's teams have already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after competing in the World Cup a quarter of a century ago, they are now expected to train in Asia and Europe.
“Preparations will include training and competitions, and players will be able to organize camps in China and Korea before moving their base to Europe in the run-up to the Olympics,” the official added.
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