Nguyen star of the future

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

READY TO SERVE: Coach Andrew Hubbard looks on as Thom Nguyen show his serve technique.

Former New Zealand No 1 Andrew Hubbard has returned home to put some bounce back into the table tennis scene.

After 11 years playing professionally in Europe and then three years as Oceania's development officer, Hubbard has taken up a coaching role with Table Tennis Wellington.

There are 1000 registered players in the capital and Hubbard is out to boost that number considerably, starting with setting up a schools competition to generate interest in the sport.

Hubbard has an eye for young talent and he is particularly excited by the potential of St Pat's Silverstream student Thom Nguyen.

The 14-year-old son of a Vietnamese father is fresh from knocking over New Zealand No1 Ryan Zhu at the North Island championships, an event Nguyen finished fourth at. Previously Nguyen had played in France and England, been to a training camp at the home of table tennis in China and won the under-15 boys doubles on the world junior circuit.

"Thom will definitely go on and play for New Zealand and it could even be at the Commonwealth Games [Delhi] next year, but my gut feeling is that might come around a bit soon," Hubbard said.

"He's a dream to coach, he listens and learns quickly, reads the game well and is very athletic and explosive."

Hubbard is refining Nguyen's serve and service return technique but regards his backhand as "outstanding".

- © Fairfax NZ News