China's training camps help table tennis players from Europe tap their potential

Lukrecija Juchnaite, a teenage player from Lithuania, agreed.

"I like the training camp. I learned a lot of new things, like strategy and techniques, and to bring it home," she said. She added that every player wants to be as good as Zhang Yining, referring to the world and Olympic champion who was also coaching at the camp.

Zhang also observed the young players and offered her advice. She has been coaching at the CTTC-E for about eight years.

She said many young European players are quite good, but they would be better with comprehensive training and coaching. She added that some players who were trained in the CTTC-E years ago have become excellent players in Europe and the world.