High-class table tennis training mixed with life lessons for eight members of the DiSE programme as they spent six days in Sweden.

Leo Nguyen, Hugo Nguyen, Eva Eccles, Max Radiven, Millie Noble, Lily Walters, Harry Street and Zac Greenhough travelled to the training base Soderhamn UIF from 23-28 August, accompanied by coaches Paul Johnson and Emma Harradine.

The mission was not only to have a great week of table tennis training and preparation for the new season, but to take the opportunity to get better at some of the things athletes need to do outside of the training hall.

The athletes were split into two groups, and in their groups had to plan their own evening meals, go and get the food from a supermarket and then cook it all for themselves and their peers.

Paul said: “This worked really well and they all seemed to enjoy cooking for each other.

“In terms of the table tennis training, this was excellent for our group. We had two sessions a day, in the morning session and the afternoon. The players then had the option of an additional session if they wanted it and they also had some physical training at the end of each afternoon session.”

The training was led by Peter Blomquist, who has been part of the Swedish national coaching set-up for 25 years, and 1991 men’s doubles world champion Thomas Von Scheele.

The elite men’s group, including Victor Brodd, Jens Lundquist, Jon Persson, Hampus Nordberg, Carlos Franco and more, were training at the same time as their elite junior group, which gave Max and Zac the opportunity to train with the elite senior group, while the others trained with their juniors. This meant everyone trained at their appropriate level. 

“It was excellent to get their insights and they made us feel very welcome and really looked after us,” said Paul. “Overall, we had an excellent week and it will be somewhere that we look to go back to in the future.”

The two-year Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme is a government-funded scheme combining performance training opportunities with education.

Players who successfully complete the programme receive 64 UCAS points that they use towards entry into university.