KARACHI, Nov 20: Two North Korean ping pong coaches on Tuesday for the first time set their foot on Pakistan soil to take up a long-term coaching assignment.

They were supposed to land on Sunday but the arrival was delayed due to some flight problems. Their services have been hired by the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) at the behest of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

Pakistani paddlers are indebted to Chinese coaches for raising their standards besides giving them the confidence needed to excel globally including the South Asian Games.

“They [Chinese] who are considered an Asian powerhouse have done a remarkable job in the past, which is evident from the fact that Pakistan climbed to the best ever sixth position in Asia in 1984,” remarked the PTTF President, S.M. Sibtain.

Meanwhile, some probables including women’s have reported at the PSB Coaching Centre for camp training. The strength is expected to be completed by the weekend.