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Coaching Team

Director of Coaching System

Park Ji-Hyun

2017~2022 / High Performance Director, Korea National Team (Women’s & Men’s)
2017~2022 / Head Coach, all U18 Korean National Players

Coaching Accomplishments

2017~2022 / High Performance Director, Korea National Team (Women’s & Men’s)

2017~2022 / Head Coach, all U18 Korean National Players

Responsible for mini-cadet (U12), cadet (U15), junior (U18)

2012~2022 / XIOM Consultant & Advisor head coach
Hugo Calderano (World Rank #3)
Jeoung Young Sik (World Rank #18)
An Jaehyun (World Rank #45 / Semi-finalist world championship 2019)
Vitor Ishiy (World Rank #51)

2013-2016 / Head Coach, Korea Women’s National Team
2013 / World Championship > Mixed Doubles / Silver
2013 / Asian Championship > Mixed Doubles / Gold
2013 / Korean Open > Singles / Gold
2014 / Poland Open > Singles / Gold
2015 / World Championship (China) > Mixed Doubles / Gold
2015 Universaide (Korea) > Team / Bronze, Mixed Doubles / Gold

2003-2010 / Yemen National Team
2006 / Arab Table Tennis Championship
Junior Singles / Gold (First in Yemen history)
Cadet Singles / Gold & Silver (First in Yemen history)
2008 / Arab Games > Team / Bronze

Playing Accomplishments

1990 / Asian Games (Asian Olympics)
Gold Medal

1990 / Australia Open
Gold Medal

1986 / Asian Games (Asian Olympics)
Gold Medal

1985 / World Championship (Sweden)
Singles / 16th

Coach

Alexandre Gomes

Alexandre Gomes, former coach of Olympian and World Ranked Top 20 player Aruna Quadri, lead the National Team of Peru as Head Coach for several years before coming to 888 TTC.

Alexandre Gomes, former coach of Olympian and World Ranked Top 20 player Aruna Quadri, lead the National Team of Peru as Head Coach for several years before coming to 888 TTC. A native of Madeira island, coach Alexandre represented the Portuguese National Team at several European Championships before starting his coaching career. Coach Alexandre was as professional player for several years and won several National titles as athlete till he changed his profession and began to focus primarily on coaching, this time with the Regional Associations of Madeira.Since then, coach Alexandre has established a reputation as a highly skilled and experienced international coach in Europe, Africa and South America, amassing coaching accomplishments like Gold at the European and African Championships. He has been a coach of several Olympians.Coach Alexandre believes in building strong and positive work relationships with his athletes while striving for common goals by modern training method. He is excited to meet and help players of all levels and skill sets at 888 Table Tennis.
Maggie Tian
Coach

Maggie Tian

Maggie Tian was born in Dandong, China. She started to play table tennis at age of 6. She had been training and playing professionally since 9 years old before she retired from the Liaoning provincial team in 2008.

Maggie Tian was born in Dandong, China. She started to play table tennis at age of 6. She had been training and playing professionally since 9 years old before she retired from the Liaoning provincial team in 2008. Played in the Croatia League for a season before coming to the US in 2009 and has been coaching full-time since.

As a player, Maggie won many medals. The most memorable one would be the Gold Medal at her very first US Open in 2010 where she won the U21 Women’s Singles.

Maggie’s passion and knowledge in coaching was quickly recognized in the US. She was selected as one of the US National Team Coaches in 2016. She has coached many US National Team members domestically and internationally. Her most proud achievement was at the 2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Fiji where the US Cadet Girls’ Team won the Silver Medal – a record hasn’t been broken as of 2021.

Maggie does not just take coaching as a job, she enjoys it, too. She equally appreciates working with high level players as well as true beginners. Nothing makes her happier to see players improve.

At her leisure time, Maggie spends all her time with her newborn in 2019. If there is ever spare time, shopping.

Coach

Tao Wengzhang

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
Rajko Gommers
Assistant Head Coach

Rajko Gommers

Born and raised in Etten-Leur in the Netherlands, Rajko his interest in sports started by playing soccer. Eventually, because both of his parents played table tennis at the time, Rajko joined the local club TTC Tanaka at the age of 8.

Born and raised in Etten-Leur in the Netherlands, Rajko his interest in sports started by playing soccer. Eventually, because both of his parents played table tennis at the time, Rajko joined the local club TTC Tanaka at the age of 8.

From this point on Rajko steadily grew as a player and at age 12 joined the High Performance Program for Table Tennis in Rotterdam where he practiced for three years. After three years in this program, Rajko joined the club Scyedam where he made his highest league (Eredivisie) debut at the age of 16 and would practice full-time with his teammates. During this time Rajko received numerous selections for various international tournaments including 5 European Youth Championships and 1 World Youth Championship.

After graduating high school Rajko moved to the Olympic Training Center in Arnhem where he would become a full time professional player. In these 2 years at the Olympic Training Center Rajko played for the Dutch club Taverzo with whom he won two league titles and one Cup and achieve several noteworthy results on the European podium.

At the age of 20, Rajko moved to Leuven (Belgium) to combine his university studies (Japanese Studies) and professional table tennis. For the last 6 years Rajko practiced in Leuven full time with Flemish (Belgian) National Team members and continued playing on the international podium by playing for example 5 World Championships and 6 European Championships for the Dutch National Team.

Starting in the summer of 2018 Rajko came into contact with the American Table Tennis scene, where he would spend his summers practicing, competing and coaching promising players. Because of wins against several high ranking players within the US, Rajko currently holds a 2700+ rating. From the fall of 2018, Rajko started working as an event coach, where he would coach and accompany USATT National Team members when they were in Europe to play tournaments on the Youth Pro Tour which led considerable results.

Now Rajko has decided to change his priorities and put all his energy into coaching. Where he hopes to use his experiences as a player to guide and coach players to the level they desire to achieve.

Avi Schmidt
Coach

Avi Schmidt

Avi is a USATT-certified regional coach and former U.S. Over 40 and 2 x over 50 National Champion. Recent wins include the 2011 National over 50 men’s title and 2010 Sacramento Spring open.

Avi is a USATT-certified regional coach and former U.S. Over 40 and 2 x over 50 National Champion. Recent wins include the 2011 National over 50 men’s title and 2010 Sacramento Spring open.
From this point on Rajko steadily grew as a player and at age 12 joined the High Performance Program for Table Tennis in Rotterdam where he practiced for three years. After three years in this program, Rajko joined the club Scyedam where he made his highest league (Eredivisie) debut at the age of 16 and would practice full-time with his teammates. During this time Rajko received numerous selections for various international tournaments including 5 European Youth Championships and 1 World Youth Championship.

After graduating high school Rajko moved to the Olympic Training Center in Arnhem where he would become a full time professional player. In these 2 years at the Olympic Training Center Rajko played for the Dutch club Taverzo with whom he won two league titles and one Cup and achieve several noteworthy results on the European podium.

At the age of 20, Rajko moved to Leuven (Belgium) to combine his university studies (Japanese Studies) and professional table tennis. For the last 6 years Rajko practiced in Leuven full time with Flemish (Belgian) National Team members and continued playing on the international podium by playing for example 5 World Championships and 6 European Championships for the Dutch National Team.

Starting in the summer of 2018 Rajko came into contact with the American Table Tennis scene, where he would spend his summers practicing, competing and coaching promising players. Because of wins against several high ranking players within the US, Rajko currently holds a 2700+ rating. From the fall of 2018, Rajko started working as an event coach, where he would coach and accompany USATT National Team members when they were in Europe to play tournaments on the Youth Pro Tour which led considerable results.

Now Rajko has decided to change his priorities and put all his energy into coaching. Where he hopes to use his experiences as a player to guide and coach players to the level they desire to achieve.

Coach

Sean Lee

Sean Lee began coaching in 2018 alongside coach Tao Wenzhang. He quickly became a favorite amongst the students, known for his high standards, strict coaching, and work ethic, but also for his close relationship with them.

Sean Lee began coaching in 2018 alongside coach Tao Wenzhang. He quickly became a favorite amongst the students, known for his high standards, strict coaching, and work ethic, but also for his close relationship with them. He emphasizes hard work, determination, leadership, and relentless passion for table tennis. He also takes time to teach and inspire young kids to be good players and even better young adults. Some notable players he has coached are Sahil Puri (2021 U.S. U19 Team member), Swathi Giri (2021 U.S. U19 Team member), and Joshua Mak (2022 World University Games member).

Sean specializes in player development including refinement of technical skills, enhancement of tactical play, play style arrangement, and mental development. His players benefit from Sean’s desire to make them better and stronger.

Sean has gained valuable international experience through competing as a former player in countries such as Canada and Spain and he was coached by some notable coaches such as former World Champion Li Zhenshi (China), and former German National Team member Stefan Feth.

Francisco (Chico) Brito
Coach

Francisco "Chico" Brito

Much more than a sport" , That`s Coach Chicott mantra.
With 43 years of experience Playing and Coaching Table Tennis in Private and public Schools of Brazil and United States Coach Chico approach the Table Tennis as one very important activity to improve the human being due the extreme brain development rewiring the brain connections while playing and neuroscience proved that even recommending table tennis to treat some diseases.
In the college, Coach Chico was focused on Biomechanics, Physiology and Sports Psychology also participating of research in partnership with University of Sao Paolo. His academic experience includes Molecular Biology Research and High School Chemistry Teacher at Colegio Oswaldo Cruz in early 2000`s.
While focused on his academic career, Coach Chico was managing his 2 Table Tennis Academy training his teams. Several Times State Champion, Coach Chico became Under 18 National Champion in 2005 and his player Fabio Paciullo became a junior National Player representing Brazil in international Tournaments.
In Guadalajara, 2011 Pan-American Games, Coach Chico students and Paralympic player Class 10 Carlos Carbinatti won 2 Gold medals in singles and doubles.
In 2016, Las Vegas, Coach Chico became US National Champion while coaching Sid and Nandan Naresh at US Nationals. After 5 years coaching in Chicago area, Coach Chico moved to California and joined to 888 Table tennis Center with a new challenge in mind: To build a solid and strong table tennis community.

Much more than a sport" , That`s Coach Chicott mantra.
With 43 years of experience Playing and Coaching Table Tennis in Private and public Schools of Brazil and United States Coach Chico approach the Table Tennis as one very important activity to improve the human being due the extreme brain development rewiring the brain connections while playing and neuroscience proved that even recommending table tennis to treat some diseases.
In the college, Coach Chico was focused on Biomechanics, Physiology and Sports Psychology also participating of research in partnership with University of Sao Paolo. His academic experience includes Molecular Biology Research and High School Chemistry Teacher at Colegio Oswaldo Cruz in early 2000`s.
While focused on his academic career, Coach Chico was managing his 2 Table Tennis Academy training his teams. Several Times State Champion, Coach Chico became Under 18 National Champion in 2005 and his player Fabio Paciullo became a junior National Player representing Brazil in international Tournaments.
In Guadalajara, 2011 Pan-American Games, Coach Chico students and Paralympic player Class 10 Carlos Carbinatti won 2 Gold medals in singles and doubles.
In 2016, Las Vegas, Coach Chico became US National Champion while coaching Sid and Nandan Naresh at US Nationals. After 5 years coaching in Chicago area, Coach Chico moved to California and joined to 888 Table tennis Center with a new challenge in mind: To build a solid and strong table tennis community.