A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF YOUTH TABLE TENNIS TRAINING SYSTEMS IN CHINA AND KYRGYZSTAN

Abstract

Youth training systems constitute the institutional backbone of elite sport development. In technically demanding sports such as table tennis, early talent identification, systematic training progression, and dense competition exposure are decisive for long-term performance outcomes. This study conducts a comparative analysis of youth table tennis training systems in China and Kyrgyzstan. Using a qualitative comparative case study design, the research analyzes policy documents, federation reports, and publicly available competition and development program materials through a six-dimension analytical framework: governance structure, talent identification, training organization, competition system, coach education, and support mechanisms. The results demonstrate that China operates a highly institutionalized, government-led, multi-tier youth training system characterized by dense competition pathways and structured talent pipelines. In contrast, Kyrgyzstan’s system is primarily federation- and club-based, with substantial reliance on international development programs for coach education and capacity building. The study offers evidence-based policy recommendations for strengthening structural coherence in emerging table tennis nations and optimizing system balance in established sport powers.