Last year, table tennis players from Kim Song Ju Primary School in Pyongyang won the trophy in the men’s team event of the 11th national games of primary school sports classes. They also won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the individual and double events respectively. During the past, the school has consistently emerged victorious in the team and individual events of sports games, including the second national games of table tennis classes and the technical innovation games of table tennis classes in Pyongyang.
Their achievements have earned Kim Song Ju Primary School nationwide fame in table tennis. When asked about the secret of the school’s success, Ri Yong Ryol, head of the school, answers that the school attaches main effort to making table tennis group activities mass-based, rather than putting stress on cultivating talents of individuals.
After school hours, many students crowd the table tennis hall. There they learn basic techniques, such as grip, serving postures, and features of ball spins, before mastering advanced techniques of services and hitting.
Kim In Suk, who has developed the talents of many promising table tennis players since Juche 96 (2007), devotes all her time and energy to coaching students in a scientific way. She applies music when training basic techniques and gives individuals specific training regimens according to their physical attributes.
Jong Hyok Bom, a student from Class B of the first grade, says: “My daddy and mummy said that I was too fat to play table tennis, but I envied those playing table tennis. So I joined the group and trained forehand strokes to the tune of music as instructed by the teacher, and then pushing, drive and other skills. After I learned the techniques, I trained hard. And a few days ago I won a game against my seniors.”
Kim Yong from Class E of the third grade, one of the best players, says that he has acquired basic techniques through music-based exercises and it helps greatly in mastering flexibility and swiftness.
Many graduates from the school play important roles in several sports teams. The school strives to make table tennis group activities mass-based and thus contribute to building the country into a sports power.