Table Tennis Canada is proud to announce that Rose Huang has been selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Women’s Coach Internship Program (WCIP), a national initiative led by Commonwealth Sport Canada to support the development of women high-performance coaches across the country.
Rose is one of only six coaches selected from five Commonwealth sports, joining an impressive group of emerging leaders from athletics, swimming, rugby, boxing, and Table Tennis. Through the program, she will work closely with mentor coach Maxime Surprenant while participating in leadership development sessions, professional mentorship, and national and international coaching opportunities.
For Rose, coaching began with a desire to give back to the sport that has shaped so much of her life. “Giving back to the Table Tennis community was the original inspiration when I was transitioning from a player to a coach,” said Huang. “Table Tennis has taught me so much and helped me grow both as an athlete and as a person, and I wanted to help provide others with those same opportunities and experiences.”
Since making the transition from athlete to coach, Rose has become known for her commitment to athlete development and her ability to build meaningful connections with the players she works with. “When I received the email, I reflected on my past experiences that led me to this point and all the people I feel so grateful towards who have supported me and my journey in becoming a stronger coach,” she said. “The very first thing I did was message my mentor, Maxime.”
Rose credits much of her recent growth to the mentorship and support she has received over the past year. “Without Maxime, and many other amazing people in my life who helped me develop so much as a coach by providing guidance and encouragement, I know I would not be the same coach and person that I am today.”
Being selected for the program represents an important milestone in her coaching journey. “One of my long-term goals is to coach high-performance athletes,” she explained. “Getting selected for this program was not on my bingo card for 2026 because of how competitive the selection process was. A part of me does not feel completely ready to be a part of something bigger, but at the same time I feel extremely validated and motivated to continue progressing and learning.”
What excites Rose most is the opportunity to learn alongside other passionate coaches from across the country. “Coaching can sometimes feel like a lonely journey, especially in Table Tennis, so being able to learn and grow with other coaches is exciting to me. I know I will leave with new perspectives because we all have different experiences and coach different sports.”
As one of the next generation of women leaders in Canadian sport, Rose believes programs like WCIP play a critical role in creating opportunities for women coaches. “Mentorship provides guidance, perspectives, and a clearer vision of what is possible. Opportunities like this not only help women coaches grow, but also create a cycle where they can inspire and support the next generation.”
She also sees increased visibility of women coaches as an important step forward for sport. “In so many sports where coaching is still very male-dominated, increasing the visibility of women coaches is important because it helps build confidence and credibility for coaches, but also for younger athletes and aspiring coaches, allowing them to see themselves reflected in leadership roles.”
For young girls and women considering coaching, her message is simple. “Do it. Do it with an openness to learn and grow, while still trusting your own voice. You do not need to have all the answers before you start. Coaching is something you develop through experience, reflection, and curiosity.”
While Rose’s passion for coaching continues to grow, her love for Table Tennis remains at the heart of everything she does. “The lessons I have learned from Table Tennis have carried into every part of my life. The sport has taught me discipline, resilience, and how to navigate challenges, but it has also introduced me to lifelong friendships, mentors, and connections around the world. To me, Table Tennis is much more than just a sport.”
Looking ahead, Rose hopes to continue developing as a high-performance coach while helping more girls and young women remain involved in the sport. “One of my biggest goals is to find ways to keep higher retention of girls in Table Tennis. I want more young women to feel that their journey in the sport does not have to end when university begins.”
When asked to describe this next chapter, Rose answered with one word: excitement. “While new chapters often come with uncertainty, I have learned that uncertainty is often where we grow the most, and that growth is what excites me most about this opportunity.”
Table Tennis Canada congratulates Rose on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to following her journey through the Commonwealth Women’s Coach Internship Program. Her selection is a reflection of her dedication, passion, and commitment to creating positive experiences for athletes while helping shape the future of coaching in Canadian Table Tennis.
