Table tennis: the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance, a major beneficiary of the emergence of the Lebrun brothers

Jinnipa Sawettabut, la Thaïlandaise de l'Alliance Nîmes-Montpellier tennis de table. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

Founded in 2019, the Nîmes-Montpellier table tennis alliance has found its balance and harmony. She is co-organizing the French Championships from March 22 to 24 and expects a wave of registrations after the Olympic Games.

If the merger of the two clubs took some time before finding perfect harmony, it is now complete. And a success. With 600 licensees (400 in Montpellier, 200 in Nîmes), the Nîmes-Montpellier table tennis alliance is one of the bastions of French ping. The emergence of the Lebrun brothers has something to do with it, obviously.

"Everything came together slowly. We are playing the fifth season with the Alliance. It was initially an agreement between boys. Then everything came together and there is only positive today. Then the performances and accessibility of the Lebrun brothers make everything easier", assures Alain Lauferon, co-director of the club, more in charge of the Nîmes side.

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In Montpellier, the club has gained nearly 30% of members since the start of the season while Nîmes has seen a continuous flow of registrations. "From January, normally, club memberships calm down. There it comes together. It's not a tidal wave but it doesn't stop, continues Lauferon. Moreover, around ten able-bodied and disabled table tennis players should represent the ANMTT in Paris this summer for the Games.

This weekend from March 22 to 24, the Alliance is organizing the French Table Tennis Championships at the FDI Stadium (Montpellier), in concert with the French Tennis Federation table.

An expected wave after the Olympic Games

This year, the FFTT returned to its pre-Covid number of members (210,000). A performance by the Lebrun brothers at the Olympic Games could lead to an explosion of licensees in France. "The Federation is working on welcoming future table tennis players. We expect a wave. It's about preparing everyone to meet human and material requirements", concedes Rozenn Jacquet-Yzel, director of high performance at the FFTT.

In Montpellier and Nîmes, we are also preparing for a significant influx. A project to renovate the Alain Achille gymnasium, already full to capacity, is currently under discussion in Montpellier. "In Montpellier, we will probably have to move the walls. In Nîmes, we will have to blow them up", smiles Alain Lauferon, aware that his La Cigale room is today far too small.

"We prefer to have this kind of problem than the opposite", positive Claire Chevassus-Rosset, pair of Alain Lauferon at the head of the ANMTT.

A WTT tournament in October 2024 in Montpellier

"Montpellier is a very strong place for French table tennis. Identity of the Lebrun family has a lot to do with it. The city is taking initiatives and starting to take action. organize events", assures the director of high performance Rozenn Jacquet-Yquel.

After hosting a European event in February 2023, Montpellier will host a WTT tournament (the ;equivalent of the Master 1000 in tennis) in October 2024. "There may be others in the following years", assures Rozenn Jacquet-Yquel.