Things That Inspired People to Become a Table Tennis Player

When I first played table tennis, I thought it was such a simple game. Then as I slowly improved and stepped through the entrance into the labyrinth, I became hooked.

It doesn’t matter at what level you are or aspire to become. The sheer intricacy of table tennis becomes the inspiration. My motivation is to become a little better, each day, each week, each month, each year, just a little better from time to time.

Table of Contents

When and Where Did My First Play

I went to Doug’s club in the blue house lane Washington with a few mates we had played with at school. About 3 months later, the worlds were on tv every day, live from rum…well that was it Bengtson Douglas Joyner Guo, long pips high serves deceitful, deceptive orientals who lost on purpose, Europeans beating the Brum in the team event where they did not lose on purpose 8 million viewers, the last great terrestrial tt coverage apart from channels 4s Euro Asia..

Ah, the memories.. then practice every day or 4 years, even practiced when the 77 jubilee was on. Lucky to have a club 300 yards away 3 times a week..

My inspiration was two-fold: a crippling knee injury and the London 2012 Olympics.

I played football four evenings per week until I tore my cruciate and cartilage in a challenge. Numerous misdiagnoses, three operations, and multiple years later, I realized that it had been nearly 4 years since I’d done any form of exercise.

I wasn’t sure I could do any exercise at all as my knee would randomly flare up if I’d be unable to walk for a few days at a time. When I went on holiday to Berlin, and our hotel had an outdoor ping pong table. I thought, “ooh, here’s a sport I might enjoy.” Little did I know just how vital the knees are in table tennis…

A week later, I accidentally caught the South Korea vs. Hong Kong China semi-final at the London 2012 Olympics. I was hooked. I loved the team format, and I loved the tactics, and most of all, I love the guy in my avatar – Joo Saehyuk is far and away from the most inspiring table tennis player I’ve ever seen.

And that is why I try to chop. Try being the keyword.

Reminiscent

When I was younger, my brother bought table tennis bats, and we would play on the dining room table. We did this for about a year, and then we stopped playing altogether! When I went to my new school, they had brand new butterfly tables, so my friends and I decided to play.

I had the advantage as I had played before! I easily beat all my friends and started playing at dinner time. I played in some school competitions and loved it! Then I met the Richardsons, who got me involved in a local club, gave me a good bat. By this time, I was hooked on the sport and wanted to play every day!

I started playing on holiday 2 years ago and met some nice people. They showed me the ropes. I never stuck at anything. I love the game and the people, who are mostly very helpful and will do anything for you where they can.

I initially played between the ages of 8 – 10 at a youth club, but other ‘things’ took over once in my teens. That was until a year ago that I bumped into a confident baldy table tennis coach who invited me to play at the tournament. I was somewhat skeptical about whether I could even remember how to play table tennis. However, soon enough, I blew off the cobwebs.

What made it an easier re-introduction was the attitude and the approachability of all the club members, who were more than happy to offer advice and were more than welcoming. I’ve well and truly got the bug back, and I love to play again.

The Influence

My Father played local league, and I used to go and watch. Then I started playing at the local youth club, at school during lunchtimes, and on dinner, tables pushed together. After that, I started playing for my dad’s team before progressing and moving on to other teams.

My dad was my inspiration and, in his twilight years, always asked how I’d got on, whether it be a league or a tournament. He was never a great player, but as a kid, he still inspired me to play. As they say, a dog is not for Christmas; it’s for life … So is ping pong …. 40 years & still going !!!!

My Playmates Story

In the early 1970s, my friend Don was a badminton player. He joined the Civil Service in 1974 and started a flatshare with (the late) Chris Strathearn and (the late) Roger Pendleton.

They introduced him to the inspirational Connie Warren and Larkhall TTC. He was further inspired by Malcolm Sugden, who found the time and patience to coach just about anyone! He gave up badminton as he found himself trying to topspin a shuttlecock!

He has never risen to a great level but has given most opponents a decentish game. He used to have a good reputation against defenders. In the mid-1980s found himself among the top 200 men thanks to drawing Babs Adedayo, Andrew Dosher & Syd Montgomery in the Middlesex Open.

Having now been diagnosed with a dickie ticker, he played less and spent more time in table tennis photography, which has always been ‘challenging’ due to available lighting.

He gets inspiration from the French photographer Remy Gros whom he thinks is one of the best table tennis photographers globally, and he does much for the ITTF (lucky man!) He also likes to help the Surrey juniors progress, as he missed out on earlier in life.