Teacher Lu Hoai Trung – the man who "ignites the passion" for table tennis in Con Cuong.

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

The reporter had a conversation with Mr. Lu Hoai Trung to better understand the journey of making Con Cuong table tennis a "bright spot" in Nghe An sports.

Achievement is not a miracle.

PV: Winning 6 gold medals at the National Phu Dong Sports Festival is a historic milestone. In your opinion, what were the decisive factors that led to this breakthrough?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung: That achievement wasn't a miracle. It's the result of years of accumulation, from the efforts of the students to the support of their families and the school. I always tell my students: "There are no shortcuts in sports." We persistently train their technique, physical fitness, and especially their competitive mindset. I think the most fundamental element is the students' willpower to overcome difficulties. Con Cuong is a mountainous region with limited resources, but the students train very diligently and seriously, and have a very high learning spirit.

PV: Con Cuong is a mountainous commune, so why is table tennis so popular there?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:Con Cuong has a table tennis tradition dating back decades. The founder of this movement was Mr. Nguyen Viet Thai, a former teacher at Con Cuong High School. Mr. Thai has persistently built and inspired many generations, creating a very special table tennis culture in the area. Currently, there are 6 regularly operating table tennis clubs throughout the commune, along with many informal groups. From young children to the elderly, everyone loves the sport. This "rich tradition" environment helps the younger generation of athletes develop quickly and sustainably.

PV: It is known that the coach is very attentive to students outside of regular class hours. Specifically, how does he train to identify and nurture talent?

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:I carefully observed each child's first training sessions. When I saw a child with potential, quick reflexes, and good ball control, I dedicated extra time to individual instruction. Some training sessions lasted until late at night; both teacher and students were tired but very happy.

In particular, I always educate myself to avoid falling behind. On YouTube, there are many analyses from table tennis experts from Japan, Korea, Europe, etc. I watch them, take notes, and then adjust them to suit the physical condition of the local students. If you don't innovate when coaching young players, you can't expect high achievements..

Strategy... from solutions fight

PV: Many people say that the teacher's secret lies in having his students participate in many competitions. Is this the key strategy that helps them excel?

Coach Lu Hoai TrungThat's right. I believe that a student who trains for 1,000 hours without actual competition will still have weak mental fortitude. Therefore, my motto is: "Wherever there are competitions, there are students from Con Cuong."

From local and provincial-level competitions to exchanges with teams in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Thanh Hoa provinces, and even amateur tournaments, I registered the children to participate in all of them.

Each match is a learning experience. The children become more confident, less afraid of unfamiliar opponents, and know how to adjust their playing style during the game.

Besides participating in many competitions, we also regularly organize internal tournaments within the school and clubs, so that students can become familiar with the competitive atmosphere, referees, spectators, and rules of the game. Creating such a "realistic competitive atmosphere" helps them prepare thoroughly before stepping into the official tournament.

Thanks to this continuous exposure to competition, the children were almost completely free from psychological pressure when entering the National Phu Dong Sports Festival. That level of confidence is something not every locality possesses.

Parental involvement – ​​the foundation for success.

PV: Constantly sending students to competitions surely requires significant support from parents, right?

Coach Lu Hoai TrungThat's absolutely right. The parents in Con Cuong are a crucial support system. They are willing to take time off work to travel with the team for distant matches. Some even provide additional financial support, meals, and transportation…

That's what touched me deeply. Some parents said, "Just focus on the coach and the children, and we'll take care of the rest." It's this spirit that has given Con Cuong table tennis its enduring strength and stability.

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

Coach Lu Hoai Trung:The movement already had a solid foundation. For example, in 2016, at the National Phu Dong Sports Festival, the Nghe An Department of Education and Training's table tennis team won 3 gold medals, with Con Cuong contributing 2 gold medals in the women's doubles and men's doubles events. These achievements show that Con Cuong has a strong tradition and foundation, and this is not just a temporary surge in popularity.

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

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

PV: What are your expectations for the next generation of young athletes from Con Cuong?

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 for most is that the students maintain their passion, diligence, and the spirit to overcome difficulties – because that is the lasting value of sports.

Interviewer: Thank you for the interview, Professor!