Notícia

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

Por CBTM

There were no medals for the host nation at the Liebherr Brazilian Open in June 2005 but the future does look bright for the nation famed for its footballers; they have a talented group of Young players and one Young lady in particular is most determined to succeed.

Brazil has a rich history of success in Latin America and has enjoyed moments of triumph in international events beyond its continental shores. Furthermore, it would seem the success is likely to continue; in fact it would appear that the future might even see a higher degree of success.

The country has a well organized coaching structure with the Brazilian Confederation Olympic Project being the catalyst for the future. Twelve players are involved in the Project, six men and six women, with the youngest member being a girl who is showing the necessary technical and mental attributes to become a player of some stature; fifteen year old Jessica Yamada.

Jessica started playing table tennis at the age of seven; her father Marcos is a university graduate, an engineer who lives for table tennis. A coach at several clubs in the São Paulo area he often took Jessica to the table tennis hall in her infant years.

"Sometimes she would play and sometimes she would go to sleep on the floor", Marcos reflected. "Until she was eleven years old she played volleyball and soccer and also enjoyed gymnastics, swimming and aikido".

TRAVEL

However, having tried a range of sports she decided that the one for her was table tennis and when she was only thirteen years old she made a very brave move for one so young. She traveled alone to Japan and spent three months at the Dohjo in Tokyo, the training centre of Tamasu Butterfly. The experience proved invaluable, Jessica improved a great deal in a short space of time and she thoroughly enjoyed the visit. The girl who was just entering her teenage years had experienced a different way of life, learned how to be independent and most importantly, she was motivated.

The concept of travel clearly appealed to her; in January 2004 she spent time in Weifang city, China, training at the Shandong Luneng Table Tennis Scholl and now has plans to go to Europe.

Furthermore, it would appear that the experience gained from her travels and her dedication to duty is bearing fruit. She has titles to her name from both the São Paulo State Championships and the Brazilian National Championships but it is on the ITTF World Junior Circuit that she has enjoyed her greatest successes.

SUCCESS

In 2003 she won the bronze medal in the Cadet Girls' Singles at the Brazilian Junior Open, a fine performance but quite modest when compared with the achievements of the following year; in 2004 she captured gold in all three events on offer. She won the Cadet Girls' Singles and with colleague Ticiana Katsuno won both the Cadet Girls' Team event and the Cadet Girls' Doubles.

Jessica is totally dedicated to table tennis and whilst girls of her age might prefer shopping, dancing and socializing, Jessica is single minded, success in table tennis arena is her avowed goal. She has gull parental support and has the same love for the game as her father, Marcos.

They say 'like father, like son', in the Yamada family it would seem to be 'like father, like daughter'.