Table tennis: ''A great osmosis in the team'', notes Nîmes Alain Lauferon on remaining in Pro A

''With the maintenance acquired, we inevitably prepare much more calmly for the following season.'' FREE MIDI – MIKAËL ANISSET

Here is a happy and relieved president. Nîmes Alain Lauferon saw the women's team of the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance ensure its maintenance in Pro A from January 2024. It's never too early to do well.

Nîmes Aain Lauferon, one of the presidents – with Montpellier Claire Chevassus – of the Nîmes-Montpellier TT Alliance, had undoubtedly not experienced such a peaceful winter sportingly for a very long time, maintenance of the women's team in Pro A has already been assured. ''We will finish 7th at best and at worst, 10th, he said. Relieved.

How does it feel to live in a warm winter ?

It’s something we weren’t used to (in June 2023, keeping to the last match). This allows you to prepare for the following season much more calmly. For the boys, we had Alexis and Félix Lebrun play when they were there to also keep things going.

For the girls, this was not the season when you left the most confident…

I would even say that this is not necessarily our best season. Two years ago, we did a better one with Jee. There, I think it was the others who were less good than us.

How to explain this success ?

Despite the fact that there was not a single training location (only Earley and Moret on a daily basis), there is a beautiful osmosis in the ;team. Zhu (the Hong Konger) was a real added value with 90% success (5 matches, 9 points out of 10) and Rachel Moret is certainly having the best season of her career in a very long time.

''At the Paris Olympics, the Alliance could have up to nine table tennis players…''

The Alliance also stands out internationally…

Yes, and it's nice. Zhu has just been a bronze medalist at the World Team Championships and there were also the Lebrun brothers (in silver).

Where is the recruitment for next season ?

For the boys, we recruited Antoine Hachard (30 years old), formerly of Nîmes during the rise of N1 to Pro B, in 2010. He has experience. For the girls, we recruited a number 1: Bruna Takahashi, n° 1 Brazilian and 21st in the world. We are also in talks with a French hopeful and two or three players of Rachel's level.

A word about the upcoming Olympics ?

In Paris, the Alliance could have up to nine table tennis players engaged (Olympic, Paralympic), which would be exceptional.
 

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