Two players with international experience are hoping to grow the sport in Barnsley after forming a coaching partnership.
Ian Denton and Modesta Vaitkeviciute have formed MI:ssion Table Tennis Club and are based at Dorothy Hyman Stadium in Cudworth.
Ian, a former England vets player, 63, hopes to bring the game to a wide range of age groups.
He said: “Kids will be the lifeblood of the club.
“We have run a taster session recently but we are hoping to work with local schools too and get the sport to the youngsters.
“Long-term we aim to get more people into the sport.
“We will concentrate on kids for the start but we are also looking to put on sessions for the over 50s too.”
Vaitkeviciute was a junior international back in her native Lithuania before moving to Barnsley about 13 years ago.
“Modesta is the only female coach in Barnsley,” added Ian.
“We think, as a duo, we will bring fun and hard work to coaching.
“If someone is serious about the sport then we have the skills to get them there.”
Ian is a level three coach and has been involved with the sport for five decades – representing and coaching the incredibly dominant RAF team and playing all over Europe and in the USA.
The pair worked together at Barnsley Table Tennis club initially but wanted to set up their new platform.
Anybody interested in starting to play the sport can email Ian at: isdenton@hotmail.com
