Coaches play an essential role in helping young people build a strong foundation in sports. In schools, that role often begins with teachers, who introduce children to sports, recognize their strengths, and help them develop their skills. Strengthening teachers’ coaching knowledge and skills to meet international standards helps embed this expertise within schools, creating a lasting foundation for sports development. This is the essence of development that goes beyond a single individual to support generations of young athletes.
This commitment comes to life through the Banpu Table Tennis Club’s Remote Camp, which gives young people the opportunity to develop their table tennis skills while helping local teachers strengthen their coaching capabilities through standardized training. This year’s camp at Tessaban 7 Rotfai Songkhro School in Udon Thani created learning opportunities for teachers and a supportive environment for young people to develop their potential.
Behind this approach is the Banpu Table Tennis Club (BTTC), supported from Banpu Public Company Limited. For 18 years, BTTC has been developing people through table tennis. Its goal is not only to build skilled athletes but also to shape good people who give back by sharing their knowledge and creating opportunities for others.
This reflects the belief that meaningful development should create value beyond the individual. As athletes grow through the opportunities they receive, they can pass on what they have learned and help others grow in turn.
This year, the journey began with 30 teachers from schools under Udon Thani City Municipality who took part in the ITTF Banpu Table Tennis Level I course, a five-day introductory coaching program that is aligned with international standards. The course combined theoretical instruction, written examinations, and hands-on practice, covering coaching principles, playing techniques, training program design, and approaches to develop athletes in ways that fit their age and skill level. Participants then underwent an assessment for certification and recognition by the Table Tennis Association of Thailand. The training marked another important step in turning knowledge into more structured teaching. .
“This training helped us learn coaching principles and techniques that we can put into practice. Teachers can now pass on their knowledge to children more accurately and systematically. With a strong foundation, children can develop their skills further, whether they play for health, enjoyment, or hope to compete in the future,” said Mr. Khom Chanthawan, a Senior Professional Level Teacher at Tessaban 7 Rotfai Songkhro School and one of the training participants.
Table tennis coaching knowledge gives teachers a strong foundation for passing on the right skills to children. At the same time, teachers who stay close and attentive can follow each child’s progress over time. This helps them spot the child’s strength and encourage them to keep moving forward.
One example is Mr. Worawut Butta, known as “Kru Wut,” an assistant teacher at Tessaban 1 Pho Si School under Udon Thani City Municipality’s Department of Education, who helped “A-chai” or Thanakrit Eungmaneeprasert begin his sporting journey. Kru Wut encouraged A-chai to try different sports to discover his strengths. Recognizing A-chai’s potential in table tennis, Kru Wut invited him to train and looked for opportunities for him to compete, sharpen his skills, and gain real match experience. With his teacher’s support and his own dedication to training, A-chai went on to represent Udon Thani City Municipality. As his skills improved, he joined the Banpu Table Tennis Club and earned a place on Thailand’s national youth team last year.
“Children outside Bangkok have just as much potential as those in the city. They just don’t always have access to quality coaching. By developing the skills of teachers and coaches, we can build a stronger foundation for young athletes and we may see more young talent emerge from Udon Thani in the years ahead,” said Kru Wut.
Alongside the teacher training program, this year’s BTTC Remote Camp welcomed more than 100 young people from Udon Thani and nearby areas to train with national team coaches and experienced instructors. Participants were grouped by skill level, with sessions covering warm-up exercises, correct racket grip, and basic strokes. The camp helped prepare young players for competition and brought their training up to standard.
Miss Orawan Chubram known as “Mesa,” a Grade 9 student at Tessaban 7 Rotfai Songkhro School and one of the camp participants, shared her experience, “I learned new techniques and improved my basic skills. The coaches and senior athletes guided me closely, helping me understand what I needed to work on next. Besides improving my game, I learned about focus, discipline, and never giving up, which I can apply both in sports and in school”
“What we hope to see after the camp isn’t just teachers receiving their certificates. It’s all 30 teachers taking what they have learned back to their schools and putting it into practice. By understanding each child’s interests and abilities, they can design training to help every child develop their skills to the fullest.” Mr. Rattapon Sukhunthee, Head of Corporate Communications at Banpu Public Company Limited, said.
The true value of the BTTC Remote Camp extends beyond the five days that brought together more than 130 teachers and young people on the court. It is what happens after everyone returns. As knowledge is passed on, it creates opportunities for children to discover and develop their abilities. This is the camp’s lasting contribution: using sport to nurture human potential.
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About Banpu
Banpu Public Company Limited is a leading versatile energy company, operating across four business pillars under its Energy Symphonics Strategy: U.S. Closed-Loop Gas, Next-Gen Mining, Power+, and Future Tech – with operations across Asia Pacific and the United States. Banpu is committed to expanding the world’s energy capacity through reliable and responsible energy solutions that move the world toward a better future. For more information, visit www.banpu.com.
