Table tennis: guaranteed maintenance in Pro A for the women of the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance

Mission accomplie pour Sophie Earley, Florian Habuda et l'Alliance Nîmes-Montpellier : le maintien en Pro A est dans la poche. Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

For the first time in six years of presence in the elite of women's table tennis, the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance obtained its continuation at the end of the regular season. 

"It’s a big sigh of relief!" Alain Lauferon has a smile. The defeat of Argentan Bayard in Poitiers (3-2), last Saturday, confirmed the maintenance of Nîmes-Montpellier in women's Pro A. The president of the Alliance, however, was not in the lead when the Ornaises led 2-0… "Fortunately, for once, events turned in our favor."

No pressure for play-downs

One day before the end of the regular phase, his team, which has already played all its matches, is guaranteed to finish seventh or eighth, saving places. She will play the play-downs in complete relaxation.

"For us, they will have nothing at stake. Finishing in seventh or tenth position, it doesn't matter, explains Mr. Lauferon. In six years, apart from the season disrupted by Covid, this is the first time that we have continued at the end of the regular phase! The other exercises, we had each time waited until the last match to save ourselves."

Time to prepare for the 2024-2025 financial year

What that changes ? "We will be able to recruit the players we want, replies the president of the Alliance. The other years, in May, when we ran away, all the girls we followed had already signed elsewhere. There, we have time and we have already received spontaneous applications."

With 90% of victories, the Hong Konger Chengzhu Zhu, who will leave the club, was an essential pawn in the acquisition of maintenance. Midi Libre – MiKAëL ANISSET

Find a replacement for Zhu, who has won nine of his ten matches

In 2024-2025, Florian Habuda will still be the coach of a team which loses its number 1, the Hong Kong Chengzhu Zhu (90% wins), and does not retain the Thai Jinnipa Sawettabut. The Alliance hopes to be able to keep Irishwoman Sophie Earley. "She is scheduled to stay, there is just an organizational issue to resolve with her federation", notes Alain Lauferon.

Switzerland Rachel Moret, 34, returned from England pumped up after reaching the quarter-finals of the WTT Feeder in Manchester last weekend, will perhaps – continue for another year before switching to a technical manager role. "We are looking for a solid number 1 capable of helping young people progress because we do not want to lose our training side", concludes Alain Lauferon, who hopes to be able to complete the recruitment of&#39 ;here the end of February.

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