Titans coach proud of Van Lange’s accomplishment

…”He will impress, no doubt,” says Coach Dwain Dick

By Timothy Jaikarran

Jonathan Van Lange of the Titans table tennis club has gained a qualification spot at the Inaugural Junior Pan American Games.
Club coach Dwain Dick, proud of this accomplishment that his student has attained, in an exclusive interview with this publication, declared, “It’s a proud feeling, as both Jonathan and Miguel Wong (who qualified) are from the club. Not surprised, though, as we have their profession over time, as a result of them coming up in a system with structure and growth atmosphere.

“Our aim has always been to develop young players and help drive elite performance from right here at home.
“There are a few more exceptional players who are no strangers to those who follow table tennis; they are just waiting for the right opportunity to showcase their skills and level of play, such as Colin Wong, Thuraia Thomas and Krystian Sahadeo, to name a few.
“In terms of what is expected of him (Van Lange), I expect him to be very competitive all the way, as he is smart, tactical, aggressive, and always have a positive mindset. He will impress, no doubt.”
Dick also said that with the opportunity Van Lange has been given, he is optimistic that the athlete would dedicate himself to the game and be more consistent in terms of his development, despite the lack of developmental initiatives and a clear pathway nationally for him.
Dick noted that, with sustained support, Van Lange can be a top player in Latin America in the near future. He believes that such a standard is good for a realistic goal for the young talent.

Dick reiterated that Van Lange is an astute student of the game, and that he is not far behind his Latin American counterparts.
“I am just appealing to all stakeholders to throw in their lot to help in any way or form, so that we can see improved systems where programmes are provided for our young talents to develop and access the necessary resources for them to progress to elite level,” Dick has said.
The Junior Pan American Games are scheduled to be staged from 25th November to 6th December in Cali, Colombia. The Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games are a multisport Junior Olympic event which is intended to promote and develop the next generation of athletes in the Americas.
Jonathan’s qualification for participation at this event provides a great platform for him to register and commence his quest for qualification at the Junior Olympic Games, Junior South American Games 2022, and Junior Commonwealth Games, among other Junior Olympic cycle and key international events within the junior realm.