About

Meet the coaches

Peter Tretinik

Level 2 TTV accredited coach
European coaching accreditation
Certificate IV in Fitness

Peter is a former Slovakian player. He won several medals in Junior National Championships. Due to severe injuries, he was forced to quit his playing career very early. However, his passion for the sport persisted and he got into coaching.

Peter has over 20 years of coaching experience from both Australia and Europe. Some of his old students are still some of the best in Slovakia in their age groups. Several of his current students are representing Victoria. He is also working alongside the national coaches to keep himself up to date with the latest trends and training methods in table tennis.

Alex Giang

Alex is a passionate table tennis coach and player who absolutely loves sports (he is an avid fan of AFL!). He has been playing table tennis since a young age but as he started university, he built a strong passion through the coaching and training he received from his fellow peers. Outside of table tennis, Alex currently works in the IT industry as a Digital Business Analyst/Consultant for Deloitte Digital.

In his 5 years at university, Alex took on multiple leadership roles including Captain & President of the Swinburne Table Tennis Club, Chair of the Victorian Inter-Varsity Games, ASEAN Games Australia Table Tennis Director, and Chair of the Swinburne Student Representative Council. These roles have helped spur Alex’s passion for helping other students learn more about the sport. Alex has also played in many university events, pennants (including being part of the winning team in Division 2 – Season 1 LOOPs), and other TTV events.

Before joining PTTA, Alex coached for Miao Miao Table Tennis Academy, TTV High Performance Camps and the Swinburne Table Tennis Club.

Alex is still an active player, competing in TTV events throughout the year.

Karen Molina Meneses

Level 2 FECHITEME accredited coach
Level 1 ITTF accredited coach
Postgraduate in Phys Ed. (Human Motricity)

Karen is an avid table tennis player, having represented her country in national selections and achieving success on an international level. Drawing from her wealth of experiences, she now devotes herself to imparting her knowledge and skills through teaching.

In her capacity as a teacher and coach, Karen possesses a profound passion for education and exhibits a strong connection when working with individuals of all ages, particularly children. She has been fortunate to contribute her expertise in various institutions and work with students at different levels. Throughout her previous roles, she has honed her communication, teamwork, and classroom management skills, consistently making valuable contributions to team efforts and organizational enhancements. An open-minded individual, Karen remains focused on staying abreast of the latest developments in her field. Her track record proves her effectiveness and motivation, with a keen ability to inspire and foster collaborative work. She thrives on brainstorming and coordinating efforts to achieve shared objectives.

Karen’s notable achievements include her extensive experience as a coach, such as teaching table tennis at various universities in Chile, serving as the Head Coach of the Chilean University Table Tennis Team for the South American tournament held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in June 2020. She also held the position of Coach for the Table Tennis team at the Universidad de la Frontera in Temuco, Chile, from 2012 to 2015. Additionally, she has coached at the Children’s Table Tennis School at the Universidad de La Frontera in Temuco, Chile.

Tharit Chotikasstit (Johnnie)

Level 2 ITTF-PTT accredited coach
7 years para athlete coach

Johnnie is a distinguished figure in the realm of table tennis, serving as the National Coach for the Thailand Table Tennis team. For a remarkable seven years, he dedicated himself to coaching Para athletes, leading his team to an impressive collection of medals across various international leagues in the Paralympic Games. Driven by his passion, Johnnie delved into the study of physiology, earning a certification from ITTF-Para Table Tennis technical Classification in 2017. This certification equipped him with the ability to analyze the diverse types of para table tennis players and their corresponding affected body parts, enabling him to accurately determine the appropriate class for Thailand’s athletes in the Paralympic Games.

Furthermore, Johnnie’s commitment to professional growth is evident through his successful completion of the ITTF-PTT Coaching Course Level 1 in 2016 and Level 2 in 2019. In addition to his remarkable coaching career in para athletics, Johnnie has also contributed his expertise to the table tennis Thailand academy.

Johnnie’s journey in table tennis began during his high school years in 2004, where he showcased his exceptional talent as a player. His prowess led him to consecutive victories in school championships, province championships, regional championships, and national championships.

Even today, Johnnie remains an active player while fulfilling his role as a coach in PTTA. His commitment to staying updated with the latest techniques and tactics ensures that he can provide his students with comprehensive knowledge and guidance in the realm of table tennis.