People Of Ping Pong
We celebrate the everyday players, the workplace warriors, the kids and the elders who love this awesome sport as much as the amazing professionals. Search #PeopleOfPong on Instagram and Facebook for our People of Ping Pong series.
WANT TO BE FEATURED? Tell us any funny or inspiring stories of how table tennis has impacted your life!
A few PEOPLE OF PING PONG…
Manish Kakade, 42, from Pune, India
“I used to play quite seriously. At Shivaji University I represented my district in Maharashtra (India) as captain of our team. I enjoyed those days. I played my best table tennis ever at that time. I made the quarterfinals of the all India inter-university tournament. At university I was respected very much.
“These days I’m a Microsoft vendor. I play table tennis just about once a week – every Friday with mostly Chinese and Indian vendors in the Redmond office. My father played until he was 60, at an insurance company – very good player. And I coached my son for many years, but then he injured his wrist, and we both stopped for a while. But I’m glad to be getting back in it. How long will I play? Until it’s impossible for me to play any more.”
Vadym Denysenko, 14, from Lviv, Ukraine
“I love this sport. People think it’s easy but it’s actually one of the hardest sports in the world to be really good at. When I was 8 years old growing up in Ukraine, my dad took me to a club where he played, with many really strong players. That’s where I started. I’ve had a chance now to play in many countries, and I enjoy that. For me the most difficult part of the game is getting used to my opponent’s style, but it’s so important. And staying in the match, mentally, when you’re down 0-2. One of my proudest table tennis moments was in a Portland tournament. I was down 9-5 and 0-2 in games, but I turned it around, got to deuce in the fifth, and won the match! A great feeling.”
Donna Wilder, 65, from Schuylkill Haven, PA
“My whole life I’ve been into this sport, through ups and downs. My best friend growing up had an outside table on her patio. I have fond memories of every morning playing ping pong before riding to school together.
“My swing dance name is Swing Mama. I moved to Seattle years ago and met my fiance learning to swing dance. His son played on the U.W. table tennis team, and he’d sneak me in to their sports center and I’d get to practice with them. I broke my elbow playing once. Went for short ball, hit the table. I was out for 6 months. But I always come back. I never tire of the challenge. I played a lot of doubles with a Chinese man who was always giving me smart tips. We won 60 trophies together!
“Once I was at a club playing next to my Minnesota friend Thor – a big, athletic guy. He lunged for a ball and knocked into me, sent me flying through the air. I hit my head on the floor and everything. But I came back and kept going. People say I’m mean in a match, ha ha. My table tennis name? It’s PongSlayer.”