From Milpitas to the Mexico Olympic Nationals

En .

Juan Ramón Gallegos Ramírez and a table tennis team representing Baja trained at the Milpitas for their big day: Mexico's 2011 National Olympics in which they compete against other states from May 7 to 17 in Yucatan. 

During previous years, Gallegos Ramirez' players have practiced in places like China, Cuba and El Salvador. This year, however, the team picked the for their coaches and facility. Speaking about his experience here, the Baja California coach said that he felt very welcomed and called Milpitas "a small town with a big heart."

Milpitas Patch: Tell us what you've been doing in Milpitas.

Juan Ramón Gallegos Ramírez: It's a table tennis clinic that lasts two weeks. We practice twice a day: once in the morning with a trainer and once in the afternoon by playing matches.  

Patch: Are these players part of the Baja California table tennis team?

Gallegos Ramírez: Yes. They have been selected to play for Baja California. They've earned a place, obviously, to play in the national Mexican tournament. 

Patch: Why did you choose Milpitas?

Gallegos Ramírez: We trained in Milpitas last year, during the winter camp, to see if it would be a good place to train for our national tournament. I saw how advanced the players, coaches and the permanent tournaments were. That's why I made up my mind that coming here would be a good idea for us. 

Patch: Is it true the team practices for six hours a day?

Gallegos Ramírez: Yes, it's a just a way to get the kids ready for the national Mexican tournament, which lasts all day. 

Patch: How many players are in this group at the moment?

Gallegos Ramírez: Right now we have 13 kids with us ... composed of 13-to-21 year olds. 

Patch: So, what do you think about Milpitas?

Gallegos Ramírez: It's a small town with a big heart. They have treated us really well from the start. They've opened their doors to us. 

Patch: Does the Baja California government pay for this trip? 

Gallegos Ramírez: Yes. I'm a government-paid coach. They kids don't pay me. The government has a development program for kids to start competing, so they can represent Mexico when they come of age. 

Patch: Does the team go to a different place every year?

Gallegos Ramírez: Yes. We went to China last year. The year before that we were in Cuba. We've also been to places like El Salvador. 

Patch: How important is the international experience?

Gallegos Ramírez: Very much so, for both players and coaches. As coaches, we see why countries like China play at such a high level. It has to do with discipline, the culture and several other things. Similarly, by coming here [to the United States] we see the cultural differences and pick and choose what's good for us to learn. 

Patch: Do these kids have a chance to make it to the Olympics?

Gallegos Ramírez: That's my dream. That's why we have these clinics.  

Patch: Who are the best table tennis players in Mexico? 

Our number one player right now is Marcos Madrid. He's from Puebla, but is currently playing in the French league. He's among the best 270 players in the world. He's a young player whose dream is to make it to the London Olympics. I think he'll make it.