Ping Pong a Hit Among Celebrities
(USA Table Tennis) This past weekend, at a charity event in New York City held in conjunction with the NBA's All Star Weekend, we learned something new about Justin Bieber: he knows his way around a ping pong table. At the event, hosted at SPIN NYC by The Fader co-founder Rob Stone, Bieber took on hip-hop artist Action Bronson in a game of ping pong. According to The Fader, the contest wasn't even close, and Bieber outscored Bronson by a score of 20-7. Also at the event were fellow hip-hop artists Vic Mensa, DJ Khaled and A$AP Ferg, as well as Denver Nuggets Forward Danilo Gallinari.
 
But Bieber isn't the only celebrity that's been known to dabble in the sport. Country music band Lady Antebellum is a high-profile  ...Read More

 

USA Table Tennis Remembers Bill Hodge
(Tim Boggan for USA Table Tennis) It wasn't like Bill Hodge to quietly remove himself from the Sport he loved, he was always so ubiquitously active in it. But that's just what he did. USTTA Hall of Fame President Donna Sakai only heard belatedly, in the last week, that Bill died Jan. 21. Some of us knew he'd been in ill health, but he'd not given us any warning that his death might be imminent.
  

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to put together a brief review of his then 70-year-old life for his 2008 induction into our Hall of Fame, and I've asked Sean O'Neill to present that to you here, along with some current comments by those who wanted to make them.

 

To my mind, the outstanding thing...Read More    Hall of Fame Profile- Read Here

11 Questions With...USATT CEO Gordon Kaye

Q: Why do you play?

A: I have found that table tennis is so many things - competitive, healthy, fun, interactive, social...you name it...My love of the sport is multi-dimensional. It's a fantastic sport to play, and fun to watch. Most of all, I play because of the people - I have met so many interesting people through my involvement in the sport.

 

Q:Which is your favorite tournament? 

A: I actually have two favorites, with several honorable mentions. 1a is the Arnold Invitational (Columbus, OH - March 6-8) and 1b is the Badger Open (Milwaukee, WI - September). I really enjoyed Nationals last year as well, and am looking forward to the US Open in July. Those are the "big" ones. I also have a strong affinity for the smaller (0, 1 and 2 star tournaments) - there is something great about...Read More

Table Tennis Makes 12th Appearance at Arnold Sports Festival
(USA Table Tennis) The 2015 Arnold Table Tennis Challenge presented by Butterfly is a 4-star table tennis tournament held in conjunction with the world famous Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH. The Arnold Sports Festival began 27 years ago after Arnold Schwarzenegger began the event to honor winning his first body building event in the city.
  
This year, the event is expected to attract over 250,000 attendees in over 50 sports. Table tennis will be one of the approximately 14 Olympic sports, and all tournaments participants will have access to spectate...Read More   Visit Event Page

MORE TOURNAMENT NEWS: 2014 US Nationals Highlights (Pt. 2) - Watch Video
Sixth Annual Table Tennis Tournament Sparks Growing Event

(St. Augustine Record) Love wasn't the only thing in the air around St. Augustine this Valentine's Day - at least not inside The River House.

 

There were plenty of ping pong balls, too.

 

One of the area's most scenic venues hosted the sixth annual All American Air Table Tennis Classic on Saturday. The event, which had humble beginnings inside the home of Steve and Christine Chapman, featured a tournament with more than 70 players, as well as a silent auction, a buffet and dancing to help raise $50,000 for Habitat...Read More   
Men's Finals Video           Women's Finals Video             View Slideshow 

 

MORE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE: Exhibition with Former Derek May - Read More

 

One-on-One with Willy Leparulo, President of NCTTA

(Sports Planning Guide) NCTTA is the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and we manage college table tennis in the USA and even in Canada (they don't have their own league so we asked them to join us). We promote competitive collegiate table tennis and support the many individuals, coaches, programs and institutions that make it possible. Currently college table tennis is mostly at a club sport level with a few institutions supporting a varsity level component, but we hope to help change that and get more schools and athletic directors on board. NCTTA runs a league during the academic year (September to March) and then we have Regional and National Championships (March and April). Anything and...Read More 

 

MORE NCTTA NEWS: Rams Sweep Titles at Texas Div. Tournament - Read More

ITTF President Resigns as German Table Tennis Assoc. Chief

(Inside the Games) Thomas Weikert, President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF),  has announced his resignation as President of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB).

Weikert was elected 12th President of the DTTB at its General Assembly in June 2005, but will relinquish the role on March 10 after nearly 10 years in office.

The 53-year-old lawyer plans to concentrate on his role as President of the ITTF, having officially succeeded Canada's Adham Sharara on September 1 2014...Read More  

 

MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Nittaku ITTF January Podcast - Watch Here

Idyllic Horizon but Dawn Breaks with New Hopes for Bermuda

(ITTF) Pink sandy beaches with the sun setting in the distant horizon on a clear azure blue ocean carpet, now in Bermuda there is a new horizon, there is a new dawn.

Supported by Olympic Solidarity and organized under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme, an ITTF/PTT Level One Coach Education Course and Training Camp was recently staged; proceedings commenced on Thursday 15th January and concluded on Friday 27th January.

Administered locally by the Bermuda Table Tennis Association and backed by the National Olympic Committee, the expert on duty was...Read More 

 

MORE COACHING NEWS: ITTF L-1 Coaching Course (Flushing, NY) - Learn More

Getting to Know 18-Year Old Nathan Hsu

(USA Table Tennis) I recently met up with 18-year-old Nathan Hsu of Rockville, MD at the Grand Final of the 2014 North American Tour. Originally from Greenwich, CT, Nathan and his older brother, John, began training at the Maryland Table Tennis Center (MDTTC) around 2006. When the twice a month trips from CT to MD became too much, Nathan and his family moved to Maryland to be near their coach for some serious training.

 

Well,it sure did pay off as Nathan is now a 2500+ rated player with quite a bit of hardware under his belt. And, he sure did not disappoint at the Tour. Even though he did not advance to the playoff stages, Nathan not only...Read More
 

MORE NATIONAL TEAM NEWS: US World & Pan Am Trials - Watch Promo Video

Dynamic Table Tennis (Brian Pace)
Rules for Serving - Watch Video 
Perfecting Tournament Tactical performance - Watch Video
 
PingSkills
Ask the coach Show #77 - Overcoming Nerves - Watch Video
  
Table Tennis Expert in a Year?
The Expert in a Year Challenge follows the progress of novice table tennis player Sam Priestley as he attempts to go from beginner to expert in just one year and break into the top 250 players in England - Watch Video
Arizona Infielder Kevin Newman is Sneaky Good at Ping Pong
(Arizona Daily Wildcat) Google search "Kevin Newman," and you'll find more than the Arizona junior shortstop's endless baseball highlights, statistics and awards.
  

You may have to sift through a few pages of honors - from two-time Cape Cod League All-Star, to 2013 and 2014 Pac-12 All-Conference player, to Baseball America's No. 27 sophomore prospect, 2013 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American - but if you dig deep enough, you'll find that Newman has a second, more unconventional love: ping pong. He lists it as a hobby in his...Read More
 

MORE ON ATHLETES: Ping Pong Passes the Time for Pats Players - Read More

MORE ON ATHLETES: UNC Legend Dean Smith Table Tennis Champ? Read More 

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