Teacher Lu Hoai Trung - the "fire-bearer" of Con Cuong table tennis

Behind that success is the special role of Coach Lu Hoai Trung, who has been involved in the school table tennis movement in Con Cuong for many years and is currently the head coach of the table tennis team of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training.

The reporter had an interview with coach Lu Hoai Trung to better understand the journey of making Con Cuong table tennis become a "bright spot" of Nghe An sports.

Achievement is not a miracle

PV: The achievement of 6 gold medals at the National Phu Dong Sports Festival is a historic milestone. In your opinion, what was the decisive factor that created that breakthrough?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung: That achievement is not a miracle. It is the result of many years of accumulation, from the students' efforts to the support of their families and schools. I always tell my students: "There are no shortcuts in sports". We persevere in training techniques, physical strength and especially competitive mentality. I think the most fundamental factor is the students' will to overcome difficulties. Con Cuong is a mountainous area, conditions are limited but the students practice very hard and seriously, with a very high spirit of learning.

PV: Con Cuong is a mountainous commune, why is table tennis so strongly developed?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:Con Cuong has a tradition of table tennis for many decades. The person who laid the foundation for the movement was teacher Nguyen Viet Thai - a former teacher of Con Cuong High School. Teacher Thai has persistently built and inspired many generations, creating a very special table tennis culture here. Currently, in the whole commune, there are 6 table tennis clubs operating regularly, along with many spontaneous playing groups. From children to the elderly, everyone loves it. It is this "traditional" environment that helps the young generation of athletes develop quickly and sustainably.

PV: It is known that you are very close to your students outside of regular practice hours. Specifically, how do you train to discover and nurture talent?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:I observed each student’s first training sessions very carefully. When I saw that a student had potential, quick reflexes, and a good feel for the ball, I spent more time giving them individual instruction. There were days when training lasted until dark, and both teachers and students were tired but very happy.

In particular, I always study by myself so as not to fall behind. On YouTube, there are many analysis articles by Japanese, Korean, European table tennis experts... I watch, take notes and then adjust to suit the physical condition of local students. If you train young people without innovation, you cannot expect high results..

Strategy....from the solutions fight

PV: Many people say that your secret lies in letting your students compete a lot. Is this the key strategy that helps them excel?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung: That's right. I think that a student who practices 1,000 hours without competing in real life is still mentally weak. Therefore, my motto is: "Where there are competitions, there are Con Cuong students".

From grassroots competitions of the commune, province, to exchanges in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa provinces, even amateur competitions, I registered for the children to participate.

Every match is a learning experience. The children are more confident, not afraid of unfamiliar opponents and know how to adjust their playing style during the match.

In addition to participating in many competitions, we also regularly organize internal tournaments within the school and within the club, so that students can get acquainted with the competition atmosphere, referees, audiences, competition rules, etc. Creating such a "realistic competition atmosphere" helps students fully prepare for all factors before entering the official tournament.

Thanks to such continuous training, when entering the National Phu Dong Sports Festival, the children are almost free from psychological stress. That confidence is something that not every locality has.

Parental involvement – ​​the foundation for success

PV: Constantly taking students to competitions certainly requires great support from parents?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung: That's right. Con Cuong's parents are an important support. They are willing to quit their jobs and go with the team when they play away matches. Some even provide additional funding, meals, transportation, etc.

That is what really touched me. A parent said: “Just try your best, we will take care of the rest.” That spirit helps Con Cuong table tennis team to be persistent and strong.

PV: Besides 2024, has Con Cuong table tennis had any outstanding achievements before?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:The movement has had a foundation before. Typically, in 2016, at the National Phu Dong Sports Festival, the table tennis team of Nghe An Department of Education and Training won 3 gold medals, of which Con Cuong contributed 2 gold medals in the women's doubles and men's doubles. These achievements show that Con Cuong has a very good tradition and foundation, not just a temporary explosion.

PV: After your impressive achievements, you were assigned by the Nghe An Department of Education and Training to be the head coach of the provincial table tennis team. What does this mean to you?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:I see this as more of a responsibility than an honor. The important thing is not the position, but what I can contribute to the movement. I hope to bring my experience from Con Cuong to spread the spirit of school sports throughout the province.

PV: What do you expect from the young generation of Con Cuong athletes in the coming time?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:I believe we can still do better. The next goal is to build a team of young athletes who can compete in national competitions, not just at the Phu Dong Sports Festival.

But what I hope most is that you maintain your passion, diligence and the spirit of overcoming difficulties - because that is the lasting value of sports.

PV: Thank you for the interview!