USA Table Tennis - May 2012 by Sean O'Neill

May / June 2012

Table tennis USA

TUnitedicketStatestoParalympic London Team IN THIS ISSUE: • US Para National Team • World Champonships • 2012 Cary Cup • Robo-Pong St. Joe’s Valley

PaddlePalace.com

CONTENTS USA Table Tennis Magazine VOLUME 83, NUMBER 3

PUBLISHER: USA Table Tennis One Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs Colorado 80909

FEATURES

USATT Annual Giving Campaign............................................................ 12 Paralympic Table Tennis........................................................................... 16 Celebrating the Past by Johnson/Rutenberg/Fontaine.......................... 17 Olympic Athlete Profiles....................................................................... 18 In the Shadow of London by Tahl Leibovitz........................................ 22 We Did It by Tara Profitt........................................................................ 24 Quest to Be a Winner by Tara Profitt.................................................... 26 World Table Tennis Championships by Tim Boggan............................... 30 World Championships from a Photographer’s View by Diego Schaaf..... 48 Bobrow........................................................................................................ 64 2011 Hall of Fame Profile: Jim McQueen by Tim Boggan...................... 76

COACHING

Early Cues by Wei Wang............................................................................ 42 Tips of the Month by Carl Danner............................................................. 44 What is the Goal of the Receiver by Larry Hodges.................................. 45 The Junk Yard by Rich Burnside............................................................... 45

Tournaments

Local Tournament Coverage..................................................................... 50 48th RoboPong St. Joseph Valley................................................................ 54 Butterfly Cary Cup....................................................................................... 56

USATT AND OTHER NEWS

Editors......................................................................................................... 8 CEO Report................................................................................................ 10 USATT National Rankings . .................................................................... 64 USATT Ratings ........................................................................................ 66 USATT Tournament Schedule ................................................................. 71

ON THE COVER: 2012 US National Para Team

Photo by Rick Thigpen, Design by Steve Hopkins

Photo This Page: US Olympian Timothy Wang photo by Bruce Liu

Official Sponsors: Tables

Balls

Apparel

SUBSCRIPTIONS: All USATT memberships include a subscription. Rates in the U.S. and Canada are $49/year, $130/three years, Household $90/year or Junior $25/year. For all other countries, the fee is $75/year. Single copies are $5.00 plus postage, prepaid for addresses in the U.S. or Canada and $10 elsewhere. Magazine subscriptions without USATT membership are $30/year for USA & Canada, other countries $60/year. Subscription orders and inquiries concerning subscriptions should be sent to USATT Headquarters, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909, admin@ usatt.org. All subscription orders are payable in U.S. currency only. For CHANGE OF ADDRESS, send both old and new addresses and label from the most recent issue, or e-mail the address change to admin@usatt.org. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited. Copyright ©2012. All rights reserved.

4 4

USA TABLETENNIS TENNISMAGAZINE MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012 USA TABLE

USA Table Tennis Magazine (USPS 942-000) (ISSN 1089-1870) is published bi-monthly at Colorado Springs, CO and is the official magazine of USA Table Tennis (USATT), a Class “A” member of the US Olympic Committee. Periodicals Postage Paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: USA Table Tennis One Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5769 This publication is owned and published by USATT, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting the sport of table tennis. The views published within this publication are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of USA Table Tennis Magazine or USA Table Tennis. Similarly, the products and/or services included in this magazine are not necessarily endorsed by USA Table Tennis. Advertising inquiries may be directed to the editor. An advertising rate chart is available at www.usatt.org/magazine

Stellan Bengtsson Balsa-C Balsa + Carbon with Outstanding Feel! Made with a thick balsa core and two layers of carbon, this blade is 10mm thick and light in weight. It’s fast, and provides great feeling and touch. Stellan Bengtsson, former World Champ and full-time coach, said, “My Balsa-C blade is very fast but I can still feel the ball. The ball gets a great arc and I can create good spin. Unlike some balsa blades, the feeling is very solid. Blocking is fast and with great control. The light weight makes it easy to have fast arm speed and it is good in the changes from BH to FH. I am very proud to have my name on this racket. Good job, JUIC!” Handle FL, ST / Wt 75 / Plies 3W, 2C / Item SJBEC

Class: OFF- Speed: 88 Control: 69 Blade Price: $93.95

Stellan Bengtsson Alpha Carbon+Kevlar in a Stunning Blade! Awesome! JUIC blade designed and used by former World Champion Stellan Bengtsson (“71). This ALL+ allround blade is medium in weight, fast allround in speed, with 5 plies wood and two layers of carbokev (carbon/kevlar). It has very little vibration and a fantastic, huge sweet spot. Excellent for virtually all players. To have success in table tennis at any level, you need a bladewith amazing touch and consistant performance. This blade delivers! Handle FL, ST / Wt 85 / Plies 5W, 2C / Item SJBEA

Class: ALL+ Speed: 82 Control: 76 Blade Price: $78.95

PaddlePalace.com 800-547-5891

Stellan Bengtsson: 1971 Men’s Singles World Champion and holder of 67 International Titles including the 1973 World’s Doubles and Team Championships, and 7 European Championships. He and wife Angie reside in San Diego, Calif., where they are involved in coaching and developing players. He is proudly sponsored by, and uses JUIC equipment exclusively!

Paddle Palace: North American Sole Distributor for JUIC

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

paddlepalace.com

800-547-5891

For owners manuals and details go to PaddlePalace.com or call 800-547-5891

new

PADDLE PALACE H2W TOUCH PRO ROBOT The Most Versatile High-Tech Robot + Easy to Use! The H2W Touch Pro can shoot different spins on consecutive shots, and it can shoot short or long balls for a total of 22 possible landing spots on the table. Choose from 30 pre-programmed ball sequences or program your own. Save up to 9 of your own sequences. The new LCD Touch Screen makes the H2W Touch Pro very easy to operate!

new NEW LCD Touch Screen! Operation and programming of all functions of the robot is very easy with the new Touch Screen.

new

NEW Spin Indicator! Spin Indicator panel on the robot shows you the spin for each ball before it shoots.

169995

item opvh2

roBoT coMpariSon charT

All of these great robots are available NOW at Paddle Palace!

Brand

Newgy

Paddle Palace

Newgy

Paddle Palace

Newgy

Paddle Palace

Model

540

1040

1050

Table Top Pro

2040

A32W PRO

2050

S4W Pro

H2W Touch Pro

Price

$229.00

$295.00

$495.00

$449.95

$695.00

$695.95

$895.00

$1,499.95

$1,699.95

# of Throw Wheels

Ball Recycling System

Yes

Rolls from table

Yes

Oscillation

C&R

Serve & Volley Sequences

Yes

Topspin/Underspin Sequences

Yes

LCD Touch Screen

Yes

Spin Indicator

Yes

Max ball speed

70mph

65mph

70mph

90mph

70mph

110mph

Balls included

120

Free shipping

Yes

Throw wheelS - One, Two, or Four?

Robots with one throw wheel can shoot topspin, underspin, and sidespin. With two throw wheels, the two independently controlled motors make it possible for independent spin and speed settings. This results in a great range of spin options – light to heavy topspin, underspin, or sidespin – or no spin shots. Four throw wheels provides the greatest versatility of all, including serve and volley in the same training sequence.

oScillaTion - Random (R), Controlled (C), Programmable (P)

Controlled Oscillation means you can set the robot to hit alternately only to the two widest points in the angle range, plus you can set the width of the angle. With Random Oscillation, the robot hits to the inner angles as well

as the widest angles. With Random Oscillation, where the ball lands depends on the frequency and speed settings you have chosen. Programmable Oscillation is the most versatile. It achieves everything Controlled and Random Oscillation does, plus you can program sequences of your choice for where the ball lands!

Serve & volley SequenceS

The Robot can be set to serve and volley in the same sequence. So, for example, you can set a sequence to begin with a serve, then shoot volleys to specific landing spots with spins of your choice for a realistic training pattern.

TopSpin & underSpin Sequence

The robot can shoot topspin shots and underspin shots (and other spins) in consecutive shots in the same sequence.

lcd Touch Screen

The LCD Touch Screen is a very easy and intuitive menu-based interface to control all functions of the robot.

Spin indicaTor

The Spin Indicator is located just under the shooting head. Before the ball shoots, it shows you the spin type on next shot: topspin, underspin, right-sidespin, left-sidespin, right-side/topspin, left-side/topspin, right-side/underspin, left-side/underspin, or no-spin/deadball.

OPTIMUM 30

OFFICIAL TABLE OF SPiN CLUBS WORLDWIDE ITTF Approved Made in Germany The Stiga Optimum 30 sets a new standard for consistency and design in table tennis tables. With a 30 millimeter (1.2 inch) top, the thickest in the sport and 20% thicker than its closest competitor, the Optimum 30 has the most even and consistent bounce of any table. ITTF approved and made in Germany, this table represents the pinnacle of current table tennis tables. The playing surface of the Optimum 30 is coated with a special varnish for the ideal amount of friction and the truest bounce. The edge and center lines are silk screened for even placement and professional appearance. The undercarriage features a 2.4 inch steel apron and 2.4 inch by 1.6 inch steel legs with levelers. The table separates into two halves, each with their own set of four 4 inch casters for easy movement and the two halves allow compact storage as well as use in playback position. The Optimum 30 also comes with a high-quality Stiga VM net set. Measures 61” x 60” x 26” in folded position. Item: TEOP3

139900 *

*Includes net set and shipping Playback position

Folded position

STIGA has a full range of tables for home and institution. See PaddlePalace.com or your local dealer for help in choosing the best table for your needs!

Pre-Assembled Quickplay Design! Best Buy for Tournament Quality Table!

79900 *

*Includes net set and shipping

Very popular table! This Quickplay Design table assembles in 3 minutes or less with no tools required. Features a 1” tournament blue top, 2” steel support apron, 2” square steel self-opening legs, 4” silver mag ball-bearing wheels, extra-heavy duty chassis, and stylized corner pads. Folds for playback and storage positions. You will love this table for its easy assembly, quality, and durability. Measures 62” x 60” x 30” in folded position. Item: TE410

Paddle Palace: North American Sole Distributor for STIGA

PaddlePalace.com 800-547-5891

STS 410 Q

Table

USA

tennis FROM THE EDITORS magazine

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Steve Hopkins and Marie Hopkins 6 Kennedy Drive Conimicut Village Warwick, RI 02889 magazine@usatt.org CIRCULATION DIRECTOR* Andrew Horn 719-866-3283 ratings@usatt.org *Address Changes, Additional Copies, Rating and Rankings Questions PRINTER Publication Printers, Denver, CO USA Table Tennis Magazine (USPS 942000) (ISSN 1089-1870) is published bimonthly at Colorado Springs, CO. and is the official magazine of USA Table Tennis (USATT), a Class “A” member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Periodicals Postage Paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional offices. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Michael Cavanaugh HEADQUARTERS STAFF Doru Gheorghe, Chief Operating Officer Deborah Gray, Finance Director Joyce Grooms, Membership Director Andrew Horn, Administrative Assistant/ Ratings

LOOKING FORWARD TO

Greetings from Rhode Island. As an editor, I like to keep an eye out for table tennis pictures of all sorts. With all the popularity of social media, there are more opportunities than ever for USATT readers to share their images. Unfortunately, not enough of these images are making it back to Steve and I. So in order to facilitate the process, I have set up an Instagam account: usattmagazine. Instagram is a photo sharing program that allows users to share photos across a variety of social media including Facebook and Instagram’s own website. Just like Twitter, users can create a community where they follow and get followers in the same circles. Instagram is available as a free app for Apple and Android phone users, as well as Apple and Android-based tablets, and it couldn’t be simpler to use. I hope everyone will start snapping photos and sharing them with #usattmagazine. This is just the start, but it is my hope it will develop into a great community of table tennis players following and sharing snapshots. Be sure to check it out. And, please remember, high resolution and no-filter will land you the best chance of getting one of your photos in a future issue of USATT Magazine. All photos are welcome, from recreational, to tournament, to professional play. Now when you click share, you’llbe sharing your love of the sport!

EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tim Boggan (Chair), Harvey Gotliffe, Larry Hodges, Ed Levy, and Ty Hoff

CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Adam Bobrow, Tim Boggan, Rich Burnside, Mike Cavanaugh, Carl Danner, Pam Fontaine, Larry Hodges, Marie Hopkins, Steve Hopkins, Jennifer Johnson, Tahl Leibovitz, Bruce Liu, Tara Profitt, Daniel Rutenberg, Dan Seemiller, Wei Wang PHOTOGRAPHERS Malcolm Anderson, Jason Denman, Steve Hopkins, Bruce Liu, Diego Schaaf, Rick Thigpen, Shaw Vistaa USATT Magazine Logo designed by Julian Waters (www.waterslettering.com). Many headings within the magazine use Julian Waters’ Adobe Waters Titling fonts. A SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. THIS PUBLICATION IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE VOLUNTEERS THAT SUPPORT IT.

SEEING YOU

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE

Regards from Rhode Island, Marie Hopkins, Co-Editor

Ads In This Issue

Advertiser Pages Paddle Palace........................................ 1,5,6-7,9,11,64-71, 80 Butterfly.................................................. 2-3 Newgy..................................................... 40-41 Ping Pong Depot.................................... 78-79 JOOLA..................................................... 14-15, 72 ZeroPong................................................. 62-63 Brooklyn Table Tennis Club..................... 10 Seemiller Camps..................................... 21 Giant Dragon........................................... 28 PowerPong Camps................................. 29 Thanksgiving Team Championship.......... 33 Nationwide Club Team Competition........ 34 Alpha Table Tennis.................................. 43 MDTTC.................................................... 46 All About Table Tennis............................. 53 Westchester Tournament......................... 61 Breaking 2000......................................... 73 Lindenwood............................................. 75 BumperNets............................................ 75 History of Table Tennis............................ 77

FOR THE WORLD CLASS PLAYER IN YOU WORLD CHAMPION TC World Championship Quality!

179500 *

*Includes net set and shipping

This is the same table used at the 2006 World Team Championships, as well as the 2007 European Championships. Tournamentgrade 1”(25 mm) thick playing surface ensures consistent bounce. Delivered assembled, the table requires only minor adjustment to ready it for play. Large 5”wheels with rubber tires and a low folded height make it easy to move. Quick-release locking mechanism is easy to use when setting up the table, the table can also be partially folded into a playback position and the design allows clearance for wheelchair use. Three inch round steel legs with height adjusters for leveling and a galvanized steel undercarriage insure a stable, durable table. Made in Germany. Measures 63” x 62” x 32” in folded position. Item: TDWOR

DELHI 25 Super Compact & Ready to Play!

159500 *

Used at multiple Greman and Austrian opens, this table has a 1” (25 mm) top for consistency of bounce and durability. Five inch wheels with rubber tires and a unique latching mechanism makes moving and set-up of the table easy and safe. Square steel 2.25” legs with height adjusters for leveling ensure stability. Made in Germany, delivered fully assembled and wheelchair approved. Measures 60” x 63” x 18.5” in folded position. Item: TDDEL

*Includes net set and shipping

PERSSON 25 Easy, Compact Storage!

*Includes net set and shipping

Donic table features include:

ITTF Approved

O Made in Germany O Little or No Assembly O 25mm top O ITTF Approved O Highest Quality Standard and Design

PaddlePalace.com 800-547-5891

129500 *

This table has a 1” (25 mm) thick top and all-steel frame construction for durability. A unique undercarriage allows each table half to fold and roll individually, allowing for compact storage and easy rolling. The user can fold one side and use the table in playback position. Square steel legs, 2.25” x 1.5”, and a total of eight wheels, four locking, ensure stability during play. Made in Germany. Measures 63” x 64” x 25” in folded positions. Item: TDPER

CEO’S REPORT by Michael D. Cavanaugh, CEO, USA Table Tennis

I want to take this opportunity to point out to you the ways in which USATT as an organization has taken steps to improve on communication avenues with our membership. It continues to amaze me how every two months, Steve and Marie Hopkins, our coeditors, produce quality magazines that cover a variety of topics, often with edition themes, to capture a broad range of interests within our membership. In the same breath there are a corps of regular contributors who simply add quality and variety to each edition. There are many moving part in the production of a magazine issue and many different timelines and time pressures that they are under. Once one edition is complete it is time to start all over again! The USATT Magazine remains one of the highest means of direct communication avenues that we have and while there are too many to thank individually we know who they when we read their contributions with articles and photos and ads. Well over a year ago, on the request from the Board, we launched a monthly E-Newsletter. Staff member Andrew Horn is the editor of this communication vehicle and we use it as a ready breaking news source and as a means to

convey general information to the membership. Thanks Andrew for making this a viable means of communication and to those who contribute links and ideas and articles to him! Lastly, I want to point out that Olympian Sean O’Neill, who serves as our Media Specialist and Webmaster, has recently put in massive hours in the migration and upgrade and launch on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s website where USA Table Tennis has a direct link and presence. If you haven’t visited the site, it is new, flashy, filled with photos, (thanks to the submissions from our corps of regular photographers) has multiple links, and also has a significant social media component. USATT and the USOC feels that we are driving extra sets of eyes to this website and that will have added benefits to the organization, our clubs, our members, athletes, coaches, officials, photographers, and to our sponsors also. To Steve, Marie, Andrew and Sean – a heartfelt thank you for your continuing contributions to the USATT communication front! Yes, Sean, I soon will start up with more regular blogs thanks to your encouragement!

BROOKLYN TABLE TENNIS CLUB 1100 Coney Island Avenue (Between H and Foster Ave.) Contact: Nison Aronov 718-421-2200 / 917-239-0398

www.nisonsttc.com Classes for Children and A couple of words about my background. My name is Elie Zainabudinova and I am originally from Kazakhstan. I started playing table tenHigh the National Team of Kazakhstan for five years. In 2000 I moved to Los Angeles and due to many nis Personal when I was Lessons 8 years old from and I represented Rated are available! changes andPlayers a new lifestyle I took a break from table tennis. In 2005 I started representing the Killerspin Krew and came back to table tennis. by Elie Zainabudinova

Now I am a full time coach in a couple of clubs in Los Angeles: one is Michael Zaretsky’s club “Gilbert Table Tennis Center” and the other one is Lloyd McQueen’s club “Robofit”. League Tournaments: Living in Hollywood I did not miss the opportunity to be a part of the entertainment world including both TV shows and movies. I participated Thursday at 8:00 pm, in the movie, “Balls of Fury”; I appeared as a guest on Lopez Tonight, Best Damn Sport Show, as well as USA’s Character Fantasy. I am also in 11:00 am, the Sunday upcoming at movie “Fencewalker”. But, my favorite appearance came last year when I was cast in an episode in the seventh season of “Entourage”, one of Hollywood’s hottest shows. League for Kids It all started when I was heading to a lesson at a remote location. I had no idea who my student would be. As soon as I walked into the office Sunday at to15:30 where i was told go, I saw Entourage posters all around me. I thought to myself, whoever is here must be a big fan of the show. It did not take me too long to realize that this was the production office of the show itself. The good news for me was that I had seen Entourage before. The bad Sanctioned news was that I wasTournaments: not current with it. The single episode I saw was the pilot episode and here they were about to start shooting season seven. 2012 will be to Doug Ellin, creator and executive producer. It turned out the lesson was for him because he was, and remains to That day Idates was introduced be, announced a big fan of table tennis. His friend Rob Stone from New York had consistently beaten him and Doug decided that it was finally time to get soon better with some lessons. Doug’s game was typical of a tennis player coming to table tennis; big swings, especially his forehand, and a lot of power. OncePrizes you addand a lot Awards of competitiveness and a fun personality to it, you have a good picture of Doug as a table tennis player. So we started Great training. During our sessions I started seeing many actors in the office and many people competing. (The next thing I know I see that the Jonas Brothers to challenge Doug; no luck for them.) Ultimately Doug became obsessed with ping pong and made everyone in the office play in order to become better and to challenge him. Ally Musika, another producer of the show, who was progressing fast, started to play regularly with him. This all culminated when he decided to write an episode with table tennis in it. I was super excited-- I asked him if I was going to participate and he said yes, and that he would even give me a line! At first I thought he was kidding because for the many times I have been on set, I have never actually had a line. Soon, Kevin Dillon (Johnny Drama) started participating in our training sessions. According to the script, he and another actor were supposed to face each other in a ping pong battle. I remember how a new guy showed up for his lesson for the first time. I thought he was one of Doug’s

We sell any Brands of Blades, Rubber Accessories, Sports Wear, Robots, Used and New Tables - one day FREE delivery and installation in NY, NJ, CT area Email: nisonaronov2010@gmail.com

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

TABLE TENNIS OFFICIAL BALL

Best Ball in the World

The NITTAKUHHH Premium Ball is recognized by top players in the world as the best ball, whether the players come from Asia, Europe, North America, or any of the 215 countries in the ITTF. Players know that these balls are unsurpassed in the elements of uniform roundness, bounce, and longevity. Made in the exclusive NITTAKU factory in Japan, decades of experience of NITTAKU’s ball engineering experts have always resulted in the best balls, even when there have been rule changes in dimension (38mm to 40mm) or other specs. The highest quality materials and the highest standards of production are manifested in the outstanding NITTAKUHHH Premium Ball!

Do You Deserve to Play with the Best?

PaddlePalace.com 800-547-5891

Used at 2011 US Nationals and US Open – and every year since 1980! also used at Nationals in 1977 & 1979, and US Open in 1975 & 1978

OFFICIAL BALL for many World, European, and Olympic Championships WC 1971 P NAGOYA

WC 1987 P NEW DELHI

WC 2001 P OSAKA

WC 1975 P CALCUTTA

EC 1988 P PARIS

WC 2004 P DOHA

WC 1979 P PYONGYANG

WC 1991 P CHIBA

WC 2005 P SHANGHAI

WC 1981 P NOVI SAD

WC 1993 P GOTHENBURG

EC 2007 P BELGRADE

WC 1983 P TOKYO

EC 1994 P BIRMINGHAM

EC 2010 P DENMARK

EC 1984 P MOSCOW

EC 1996 P BRATISLAVA

OLYMPICS 2012 P LONDON

WC 1985 P GOTHENBURG

WC 1997 P MANCHESTER

EC 2013 P AUSTRIA

Paddle Palace: North American Sole Distributor for NITTAKU

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

2012 Annual Giving Campaign

November 7, 2011

Dear USATT Member,

As you may know, we are getting ready for London with our Olympic and Paralympic players. Our athletes are to represent to that’s the best of than theirrecreation, ability, and we table Imagine a future where familiesready see table tennis as aus sport more where support dreams. The US Olympic Committee choice in college, and where thewant starstoand stripestheir fly above the medal podium at the Olympic Games believes and your will MATCH up to $50,000 of of the new USA Table Tennis. This vision in cantable be a tennis reality with help. our pledges this year! We have focused our High Performance Plan on the future. Training, coaching and camps add to the That’s why we are asking your help. We need support young athletes are putting in every day. Every opportunity tofor compete and train against internationa that will be dedicated to developing the future of our sport. strengthens our team and challenges them to grow and improve. This hard work deserves the suppo The annual giving campaign is dedicated to youth programs tennis community. and sport promotion; the two things that will make the Today we’re asking for your help to make USA Table Tennis stronger with a gift to our annual givin vision a reality. gift will be matched by the US Olympic Committee’s Challenge Grant Program, Dollar for Dollar up Each of our projects will help young players improve, As you may know, American athletes are making a markon internationally. Currently three put more US athletes the international scene andfemale help cade top 40 of the world and two female juniors are recreational ranked in theplayers top 25 intothe world. The United us reach more build support for theStates r at both the French Jr. Open andsport. Canadian Jr. Open. ouror Para athletes have recently Please makeInaaddition, gift of $50 more today to help us won m Costa Rica and U.S. Para Open events. reach our goals. You can help us reach these goals faster a contribution of $250, $500 or evenchampionships, $1000. Gifts toselects USA and s USA Table Tennis publishes USAwith Table Tennis magazine, conducts major Tennis, 501(C)3 organization, are tax deductible. National and Paralympic teams,Table promotes the asport and runs a youth development program, which c Dear Table Tennis Friends:

coaching, camps and teams. All Sincerely, of these services are paid for with dues, tournament income and a sm contribution from the United States Olympic Committee.

Simply said, we could do more if we had more.That’s why we are asking for your help. We need sup dedicated to developing the future of our sport. The annual giving campaign is dedicated to youth pr Michael D. Cavanaugh promotion;the two things that will make theTennis vision CEO a reality. USA Table

Each of our projects will help young players improve, put more US athletes on the international scen more recreational players to build support for the sport. Please make a gift of $50 or more today to goals. You can help us reach these goals faster with a contribution of $250, $500 or even $1000. Gift Tennis, a 501(C)3 organization, are tax deductible.

For information about how to donate Please take action today by completing the attached formCampaign, and enclosing your gift to USA Table Tenn to the 2012 Annual please www.usatt.org to make a gift instantly). Your gift will help or build the future of table tennis in the USA visit www.usatt.org contact your loyalty and generosity. Deborah Gray, USATT Accountant, Sincerely, at accounting@usatt.org or 719-866-3284

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

2012 Annual Giving Campaign IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN DONORS

Honor Roll Pledge (payable over 4 years)

Supporting Gift - $200 Xiaotao Jin

$10,000 Fadi Kaddoura

Supporting Gift - $100 Attila Malek Ashu Jain Ed Toomey James Shih Jing-Wen Tzeng Insook & Shekhar Bhushan Tina Lin Fenton TTC/Southern Lakes Parks & Recreation Marvin Karno Joe L. Ferguson Dick Evans

$4,000 Michael Cavanaugh $2,500 Johan & Peter Wu Dell & Connie Sweeris Ariel Hsing $1,000 Peter Scudner Jim & Kate Kahler Sean Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill New Nam Foo Ling Inc. Anonymous Gold Medal Gifts - $1,000 John McFadden Johan & Peter Wu James M. Coombe Jim McQueen The Landers Family Richard Martin Monroe, Sweeris & Tromp Silver Medal Gifts - $500 Erica Wu Angie & Michael Yu US Table Tennis Hall of Fame Bronze Medal Gifts - $250 Joyce Grooms Doru Gheorghe Deborah Gray William Shun Xiao I-The & Mehng-Lurn Tong Lucky Shuttle American Bright Parke Skelton Niraj Oak Charlene Liu & Changping Duan Volker Schroder Jack Woo

Supporting Gift: $10-$99 Andy Horn Bill Walk Y.C. Lee Dr. Azmy Ibrahim Jeff Smart Jie Chang Don Smedstad Terry Timmins Phil L. Gehres Gloria Glickley Jun Yan Yenhua Jessica Tsai Celia Pao Shuchun Chi Marius Wechsler Steve & Marie Hopkins Cecilia Armelin Christian Lillieroos Mohawk Valley Table Tennis Club Lois Benjamin Janine Musholt Tom & Marilyn Miller Carl Danner Daniel L. Koscielski Steven Kasha David Fullen

$100,000 USATT Goal

$100k

USOC Matching

$50,000

$50,000(max)

$21,193

As of 05/01/2012

$21,193 + USOC match TOTAL: $42,386 Your Donation Will Make a Difference! Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

AVAILABLE

NOW! Extra high

SPEED

Extra high

SPIN

Medium high

CONTROL

New for 2012! With professional insight from Germany’s National Coach and former World Champion, Jorg Rosskopf, JOOLA Rhyzm sets a superior standard for the new generation of high-speed rubber and is customized for the aggressive topspin competitor. This new rubber utilizes our latest rubber technologies to add extreme power while simultaneously improving the dynamics and spin of any offensive game. Featuring a combination of a new, extremely grippy and elastic top sheet over an extra firm 48º layer of sponge, Rhyzm provides superior spin and force. At the same time, Rhyzm’s development also incorporates technology that enables players to maintain extreme control in situations requiring excellent finesse and touch.

Step up your game with JOOLA Rhyzm! www.joolausa.com

Visit our website and enter the code “rhyzmrocks” to receive 10% off your purchase of Rhyzm rubber from now until June 30th. While you’re on our website, be sure to check out our latest in-depth video review of Rhyzm from our resident pro, Steven Chan, and let us know what you think!

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Where Champions Are Made. The JOOLA 3000 SC, the official table of the US Open and US Nationals

Unbeatable Prices! Special pricing on the JOOLA 3000SC available at www.joolausa. com/usopentables. Save up to $400 on your very own US Open table. For a limited time only!

Official Table of: - US Open - US Nationals - North American Teams - NATT Tour

THE OFFICIAL TABLE AND APPAREL SPONSOR OF USA TABLE TENNIS

www.joolausa.com

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

PARALYMPIC TABLE TENNIS

2012 Paralympics London

London 2012 - Paralympic Table Tennis With 29 medal events and nearly 300 athletes, table tennis is one of the largest sports on the Paralympic program. Table tennis has been a part of the Paralympic program since the first Games in 1960. KEY FACTS Dates: Thursday, August 30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Saturday, Spetember 8 2012 Medal events: 29 Athletes: 276 (174 men, 102 women) Singles

At London 2012, all individual events will begin with a group qualification stage followed by a knockout competition, with athletes progressing through the draw until the finals. The team events will be conducted according to a direct knockout format. A total of 11 different classifications are used in table tennis at the Paralympic Games. Classes 1-5 cover wheelchair athletes, classes 6-10 cover standing athletes, and class 11 covers athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Paralympic Table Tennis, past and present

Table tennis has been part of the Paralympic program since the first Games at Rome in 1960 (28 years before the sport made its Olympic debut). Events for standing players were first included at the Toronto 1976 Games, while athletes with cerebral palsy took part for the first time at Moscow in 1980. At London 2012, the Table Tennis competition will be held at ExCeL, a multi-purpose events venue that will also host a number of other Paralympic and Olympic sports. Team Photo by Rick Thigpen

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ May/Jun 2012

History of U.S. Paralympic Table Tennis Celebrating The Past By: Jennifer Johnson, Daniel Rutenberg, and Pam Fontaine At the end of World War II, a relatively large segment of the population found itself unable to participate in society’s mainstream. Numerous injured service men and civilians were seeking avenues to participate in sports and physical activity. As a result, recreational sports were introduced as a key component of many rehabilitation programs throughout the U.S. It quickly became apparent that recreational outlets were moving towards higher level competition, resulting in the need for tournaments. In the mid 1950s, Ben Lipton organized the first National Wheelchair Games for individuals with disabilities. The initiation of sports became so popular that an immediate need to form governing bodies was necessary. Therefore, Lipton and his committee founded the National Wheelchair Athletic Association (NWAA). The primary function of the NWAA was to establish rules and regulations governing wheelchair athletics, including table tennis, and to provide opportunities for wheelchair athletes to compete at regional and national levels. Table tennis was included in the first Paralympic Games in 1960, however; it was not until the 1964 Paralympic Games that athletes representing Team USA competed in table tennis. Initial introduction of disability sports was primarily geared for individuals with physical disabilities that utilized wheelchairs as their only means of mobility. In the 1976 Paralympic Games a monumental change occurred expanding the games allowing standing disabled players (specifically amputees and les autres [literally “The Others” which are athletes with disabilities that do not fall into the other categories]) to participate in table tennis. This idea was the birth of merging together different disability groups for international sport competitions. With the influx of standing disabled athletes at the 1982 World Championships for Table Tennis the international classification system was changed. The purpose was to create fair and equitable play for all athletes from different disability groups (with the exception of athletes with a visual impairment) creating classes 1 to 5 for athletes competing in wheelchairs, and classes 6 to 10 for standing disabled players. Sport for individuals with disabilities is an integral part of the Olympic movement. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and National Governing Bodies (NGB) have a legal mandated responsibility to provide, encourage, and support amateur athletic programs for athletes with disabilities. USA Table Tennis (USATT) is the national organizing body for table tennis in the United States. USATT oversees player memberships, clubs, rules, instructional information, and national teams. Internationally, the governing body for Paralympic table tennis is the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The sport of table tennis abides by rules established by ITTF this includes all Paralympic Table Tennis competitions. In the 1980s and ’90s Team USA was highly competitive in Paralympic Table Tennis, winning 18 medals in single events and 9 medals in team events. During the last dePhotos of Jennifer Johnson and Mike Dempsey by PN/Sports’n Spokes Photo: Curt Beamer. Stock photo courtes of StockXchng

cade there has only been one Paralympic medal earned in singles and one in the team events. Despite the decline in medal count, the U.S. has produced several athletes that have made significant contributions in Paralympic Table Tennis. The most notable was Mike Dempsey, winning gold medals in both the 1980 and 1988 Paralympic Games. Moreover, Mike was inducted into USA Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports Hall of Fame and USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame. Another player, Jennifer Brown Johnson, has also received many accolades in table tennis. Jennifer has won gold medals in both the 1988 and 1996 Paralympic Games. In addition, she has been inducted into the USA Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports Hall of Fame. Standing disabled athletes Mitch Seidenfeld and Tahl Leibovitz contributed a Paralympic gold medal to team USA in the 1992 Paralympic Games and a gold medal in the 1996 Paralympic Games, respectively. There have been many great players that have represented the United States and have won medals in Paralympic Table Tennis, however due to limited space (and for further details) please see Paralympic Results at: http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/ Currently, there are efforts being made to recruit junior players to Paralympic Table Tennis. The U.S. Paralympic Team has been fortunate to consistently maintain outstanding high level coaches and continues to place a strong emphasis in this area. The goal is to continue the rich tradition of producing elite players that can make a significant contribution nationally, as well as internationally. Participation at a competitive national and international level requires the same attributes required by all athletes regardless of disability: dedication, determination, mastery, sacrifice, and the will to win. Below is a summary table for Team USA Table Tennis showing number of participants and medal count for Paralympic Games:

TABLE TENNIS TEAM USA - PARALYMPICS EVENT

MALE

FEMALE TOTAL

PARTICIPANTS

1964 Tokyo PG 6 1968 Tel-Aviv PG 16 1972 Heidelberg PG 3 1976 Toronto PG 9 1980 Arnhem PG 9 1984 New York / Stoke Mandeville PG 3 1988 Seoul PG 15 1992 Barcelona PG 16 1996 Atlanta PG 8 2000 Sydney PG 6 2004 Athens PG 2 2008 Beijing PG 3 TOTALS 96

MEDALS GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE TOTAL

0 10 2 4 1

6 26 5 13 10

1 1 0 2 2

2 0 1 3 1

2 4 4 2 2

5 5 5 7 5

1 5 5 4 3 1 1 37

4 20 21 12 9 3 4 133

0 4 1 2 0 0 0 13

5 1 1 1 0 0 0 15

1 2 2 2 1 1 0 23

6 7 4 5 1 1 0 51

Source: http://www.paralympic.org

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Tara Profitt Birthdate: 12/16/64 Birthplace: Berlin, CT Hometown: Newington, CT Coach: Roman Tinyszin Paralympic Classification: 2

Personal: Retired from table tennis back in 1984 and returned to the sport in 2008. Graduated from college with a B.A. in communication. Married to Clyde Profitt and we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary at the Paralympics in London this year. We have one teenage son named Andre. I am the middle child between two brothers and I think that is why I am a very determined person and never give up. My parents reside in Berlin, CT. I enjoy traveling, following the stock market on CNBC and watching the waves break on shore at the beach.

Competition Record: 2011 – ParaPan American Games - silver medal (women’s singles and teams) 2009 - ParaPan American Games – gold medal (women’s singles and teams) 1984 - Paralympic Table Tennis Team Member

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Pam Fontaine Birthdate: 12/16/64 Birthplace: Columbus, OH Hometown: Double Oak, TX Coach: Keith Evans and Daniel Rutenberg Paralympic Classification: 3

Personal: Pam is an adjunct University professor in the Kinesiology department at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. She has a master’s degree in Adapted Physical Education and two teenage boys Matthew (19) and Mark (18). She is a paraplegic following an automobile accident when she was sixteen years old. Her career in table tennis began after her accident when she was 17 but retired three years later to pursue her dream of playing Paralympic basketball. Pam returned to Table Tennis in 2006 and quickly gained success as an American player in the sport. Pam’s hobbies include racket sports, basketball, and card games. Her favorite television shows are CSI and criminal minds. Her parents live in a neighboring town four miles away and she has two brothers.

Competition Record: 2012 – Member of the United States Paralympic Team London 2011 – ParaPan American Games - silver medal (women’s singles and teams) 2010 – World Championships Team Member 2009 - ParaPan American Games – gold medal (women’s singles and teams) 2007 - ParaPan American Games – silver medal (women’s singles and teams) 1984 – Paralympics – silver medal in teams

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Tahl Leibovitz Birthdate: 6/1/1975 Birthplace: Israel Hometown: Ozone Park, NY Coaches: Sean O’Neill and Sean Pirzada Paralympic Classification: 9 Personal: Leibovitz Graduated from Queens College CUNY with a Master Degree in Urban Affairs and competed at the ACUI National Championships from 2008-2011 winning two championships in Men’s Doubles and Reaching the Final of Men’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Tahl will be attending Rutgers University in the fall of 2012 to finish a Masters of Social Work. He currently works for the New York City Dept of Education as a middle school substitute teacher. Currently Tahl trains with his local coach and practice Partner Shahid Pirzada. Shahid Pirzada has been working with Tahl for the past few years as his local practice partner and coach.

Competition Record: 2011: Gold & Silver; Parapan Games, Guadajara, Mexico 2010 ACUI Collegiate Men’s Doubles Finalist 2009 US National Men’s Doubles Finalist 2009 US National Men’s Over 30 Champion 2009: Two Gold Medals; Parapan Am Games Margarita Island (Venezuela) 2009: New York State Champion 2009 IPC German Open Champion 2009 ACUI Collegiate National Champion Men’s Doubles 2008: US Open Men’s Singles Over 30 Finalist 2008 IPC German Open Champion 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Table Tennis Paralympic Games, Beijing, China 2008: ACUI Collegiate National Champion Men’s Doubles. 2008 ACUI Collegiate Men’s Singles Finalist 2008: New York State Champion 2007 IPC US Open Champion 2007 IPC Atlantic Cup Gold Medalist 2007 IPC Tango Cup Gold Medalist 2007: Three gold medals, Parapan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2006 USOC/USATT Player of the Year 2006 IPC US Open Champion 20

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

2006 IPC German Open Champion 2006: Fourth place, Open Standing - IPC Table Tennis World Championships, Montreux, Switzerland 2005: Three gold medals; Parapan American Table Tennis Championships, Mar del Plata, Argentina 2005: IPC US Open Champion 2005: Two gold medals, Open Standing, Class 9; Bronze medal, Team - U.S. Paralympics Table Tennis Champion ships 2004: Bronze medal, Singles - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece 2003: Three gold medals; Parapan American Games, Brasilia, Brazil 2002 IPC US Open Champion 2001 IPC US Open Champion 1999 IPC US Open Champion 1998 IPC World Championships Bronze Medalist Paris, France 1997 16th World Maccabiah Games Bronze Medalist 1996: Gold Medal, Singles; Bronze medal, Team - Paralym pic Games, Atlanta, Ga.

DAN SEEMILLER’S SUMMER TABLE TENNIS CAMPS June 12-15 & July 10-13, 2012 (New Carlisle) July 20-22 (Indianapolis TTC: $260) Daily Schedule: 8:00 am – 11:00 am & 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Cost: $360 ($100 deposit) Name__________________________________________Phone___________ Email____________________________________________________________ For more info: (574) 654-7476 or

vseemiller@embarqmail.com Send form and deposit to: Dan Seemiller, P.O. Box 608, New Carlisle, IN 46552

Dan Seemiller& Mark Nordby’s 3 hour DVD set is titled “COMPLETE TABLE TENNIS” because it teaches all the techniques of fundamental and advanced strokes, strategy, short game, footwork, serve, and return of serve. This DVD offers all the same information we teach at a 4-day camp. Buy one now….and improve your game!!! Dan’s “Complete Table Tennis” DVD can be ordered by going to:

www.completetabletennis.com

If you like our South Bend tournaments…… …………you’ll love our camps!!

CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT:

completetabletennis.com Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

In the Shadow of London: How to Play like a Champion By Tahl Leibovitz It is said that most sports are 90 percent mental. Table tennis is no exception. At the international level, especially in tournaments such as the Olympic and Paralympics Games, the mental game is extremely intensified. Before the days of competition the pressure surrounding the Paralympic Village is indeed extremely intense. That is why there are many instances where medals are won and lost in the village. It is important to remember that the Games are held once every four years. For many of these athletes every waking and breathing moment of the previous four years has been a preparation for the competition itself. Dealing with distractions and pressure are probably two of the most important aspects of competing in these games. The correct approach to the Games is vital. You need to be in the right mindset before the Games, during the Games, during competition, and after the Games too. These are things which take a lot of time and practice to master. The biggest thing to overcome in these situations is mastery over your own self. The easiest way to get defeated quickly is to fail to be in control of your own self. The Olympics and Paralympics are different from other tournaments in the fact that there is so much surrounding them. Every level of competition, preparation and expectation is intensified many times over. It is these things that need to be taken into account during preparation, execution, and after the Games. The athlete in the competition is very fragile in the sense that one mistake, one lapse in concentration, one failure to manage distractions... could cost them the match. I found the best way to approach the games is to minimize the importance of them on a grand scale. In other words, (as I mentioned earlier) during every aspect of the games there is this heightened sense of things. Things that you would find in a normalized situation are not to be found here. Instead, every aspect leading up to the Games, the Games themselves, etc; are period points of a heightened state. It is interesting to note that what is heightened so tremendously is the “importance of the Games” in relative comparison to other competitions. From a mental perspective you can not get caught up in all of that because of the simple fact that dealing with distractions and pressure will be extremely difficult if you can not separate yourself from these external things. No matter what anyone says, playing for your country in an Olympic or Paralympic Games, you will feel pressure. Walking out into the opening ceremonies in from of tens of thousands of people can be quite humbling! Make no mistake about it you will be dealing with pressure and you will be dealing with tons and tons of distractions. Due to the massive stage these games are played on, mental strategies that might not work elsewhere, could work in these games because of the uniqueness (and the small window of success) that is available to you as an athlete in the Games. For example when many have written about the mental game they have written that certain mental strategies must be employed under the assumption that both players are of equal technical ability. If you read “With Winning in Mind” Lanny Bashem’s core principles take place in instances where both individuals are of equal technical ability. However, because of the sheer immense scale the Olympic and Paralympic Games are played on, I happen to strongly disagree with this assumption. I believe that what makes the Games special is that they are so volatile in a sense. The huge God-like properties that are attached to the Olympic and Paralympic Games make it possible for anything to happen. Advantages and chances that might not be seen at a 22

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

regular tournament do occur frequently here at the Games. It is also important to note that the large scale properties that are given to the Games can completely become a part of the athlete and the inability of an athlete to separate these things from their own selves can be the one underlining cause of defeat. If we compare an event such as the Olympic and Paralympics to regular tournament we will obviously find many differences. We might not be going to the Olympic or Paralympics anytime soon as an athlete but, how can we compete as an international athlete who represents their country on such an important world stage? What can we do so that we can win that state championship, local tournament, or league match or just have a great time competing with friends? How can we grab a shadow of the mindset of those great athletes and enjoy those moments where we are able to participate in a tournament properly by playing to the best of our ability? Earlier in this article I used some examples of technical ability, I will delve into that a bit more. In a regular tournament, most players are not bothered by the fact that their opponent possesses a higher technical ability then his or her self. In fact many times this relieves pressure because expectations are low (it is important to note many expectations are self induced). These players prefer to be in these types of situations constantly. They enter rating events that are much higher than their own level. Because of this problem, when they need to compete with someone in equal level or below, they are incapable of doing so. Grinding is a part of winning-- and an Olympic or Paralympic athlete knows that every match is important. In tournaments the Olympic and Paralympic athletes are well

aware that you gain experience from playing against players below your level, those equal to your level, and also those above your level. You need these experiences if you want to be a complete player. You need those tough matches. You need to know what it is like to battle a player who is below your level as well as what it is like to battle someone who is better than you. (It is also important to note that when playing against players above your level, you are not only gaining experience, you are also gaining knowledge. Knowledge and experience in the sport of table tennis are two different things. Although you can gain knowledge from every single match you play regardless of your opponents’ level, it is important to learn from players who are better than you by watching them and competing against them. I can’t say this enough times: never be afraid to fail. Never be afraid to play against someone better than you, never be afraid to ask them questions and never hesitate to study them. I owe much of my success to many of the great players who came before me. Without them I would have never been able to achieve the level I have been so fortunate to achieve). In conclusion, I would like to add that to overcome a player that is greater than your own ability is no easy task. In fact the best way to achieve success over a player with greater ability than your own is to make your own game stronger. In other words, defeat of that player comes from your own strength. You cannot impose the will of your game on this type of player because their ability surpasses your own. You need to eliminate unforced errors. You need to put your opponent into risky situations. Olympic and Paralympic Medalists use the factors of pressure and the importance of the match to gain an equal footing over their opponents when they are not equal to them in ability. (This is of great focus, especially at the Paralympic games). It is important to know that against a player who is better than you are, you need to get them to play down to your level, rather than you trying to play up to their level! You won’t be able to do that by trying to bully them off the table, pulling out shots from outer space. In the Olympic and Paralympic Games your opponents usually know everything about your game. They know exactly what you do during crunch time. They know how you approach the game. They know what you will do during certain situations. They know your temperament. They look for things that you will do, to take yourself out of the match. These athletes are always looking, always searching, for the one small thing that will give them a competitive edge over you. They will video you over and over again. Their coaches will study your game entirely, inside and out. They will speak with other coaches and players are about what it is like to play you. Every single aspect of your game will be analyzed thoroughly. Although you probably won’t go to these extremes during your matches, in order to enhance your chances at success it would be advantageous to try and do something extra to gain an advantage over your opponents. Start small by doing one thing extra beyond what you are doing now. Do something both in your training and both in your competition. Start in training by adding 10 minutes of service practice to your match play or training. Start in tournaments by scouting out one of your opponents. Start small and build up until these things become habits. Do this and you will be on your way to competing like an Olympic and Paralympic athlete. Also keep in mind that to win an Olympic Gold or Paralympic Gold requires a combination of luck and timing, with a little bit of talent in there somewhere. Being in the right place at the right time is also quite helpful. So

don’t give up, keep pushing forward and your time will come. The final thing I will write here is that the most important success to any endeavor is self belief. There is hardly ever a champion who did not believe in their own self and own abilities. When you get on that table, you must believe that you can do it. Have faith in your abilities no matter how subpar or great they are. Get on table with confidence. Know in your heart and mind that you can compete. Never be afraid of failure and never try and impress others with your performance. (Do not define your self-image by failed performance. Separate the two so that you and your coach can analyze your matches properly). When you believe you can compete, you set yourself up for a great battle between yourself and your opponent. You throw your hat in the ring. You truly get the chance to enjoy the real nature of competition. The Olympic Creed states that “the most important thing is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.” Even though this creed is sometimes forgotten, it is something we should all try and remember. In this article I referred to some of the things that Olympic and Paralympic athletes do. It is important to note that not all Paralympic and Olympic athletes do these things. Some become complacent with the fact that they have become Olympians or Paralympians. There are many other reasons why some of these athletes do not do these things, too many to describe here. On that note, there is an extreme immense difference between a participant in the games and a Gold medalist or medalist of any kind at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. These types of individuals not only employ most of the things written in this article but, many other things as well. (Some of these things are done before the games, during, OR after, and some are done before, during AND after the Games). The core of these medalists are exhaustive in the following areas: goal setting, mental imagery, self-talk, energy management, concentration, self-confidence, mental preparation, and excelling under pressure. They also give a huge amount of self effort and time to keeping their mental training program on track. We must also make sure not to forget that much of these things are of a grand responsibility of the coach. The work of the coach often happens behind the scenes. If you want to be able to play to the best of your ability proper coaching is vital. The winning medal or championship is a rightful achievement to the coach just as much as to the athlete. The coaches often live and breathe the Olympic and Paralympic experience along with the athletes. In many cases there is no way to summarize the coaches’ role to the athlete. For a great majority of these athletes there would be no medal without the coach. I would also like to add that the athlete’s family plays a huge role in the athletes’ success. With-out the support of family for these athletes the achievement of winning medals becomes distant and in many instances not possible. I will end by saying: Good luck. Fight hard, compete, and enjoy!

Photo by Rick Thigpen

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

WE DID IT !!

DUO OF 1984 TABLE TENNIS PARALYMPIANS RETURN TO ENGLAND IN 2012 TO REPRESENT TEAM USA.

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

by Tara Profitt After representing Team USA in Table Tennis at the 1984 Paralympic Games in Stoke Mandeville England both Pam Fontaine and I retired from table tennis, graduated from college and went our separate ways. I lost contact with Pam for about 20 years. She went about her life in Texas as I did the same in Connecticut. Now that our sons, Pam has two and I have one, are over the age of 18 the demands of parenthood are not as taxing which led us back to our passion for table tennis. Unbeknownst to me, Pam had started playing table tennis once again about 2 years before I did. I had been back in the sport of table tennis for about 6 months before I found out that Pam was also playing competitively again. After Pam and I reconnected it was like our relationship in college as friends and on the table tennis table was never interrupted. I had not seen Pam in about 20 years before we met back up again in December of 2008 at the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas. It was awesome to see Pam again and get back on a table tennis table with her. It was Pam who introduced me to table tennis in 1983 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where we both attended college. Before meeting Pam in college I never thought I would be an athlete again after a diving accident left me paralyzed from the chest down in 1979. Having been a successful able bodied athlete and with Pam’s encouragement I decided to give table tennis a try. I would not have been a Paralympian in 1984 if it had not been for Pam and her relentless ways. After meeting back up with Pam in December of 2008 at the U.S. Nationals we discussed how great it would be if we could once again make the Paralympic Team together in 2012 and as coincidence would have it we would hopefully be representing Team USA in the same host country of England as we did back in 1984. This started out to be a far fetched dream and as months went on we jokingly decided to put a plan together to see if we could do it. Pam and I were not team/doubles partners at the Paralympics in 1984 because there were more female wheelchair players in the sport back in 1984 so each of us were partnered up with a player closer to our disability class. So Pam and I thought It would be great to see if we could be 2012 Paralympians as Team partners also being that we did not accomplish that feat in 1984. Being that Pam and I were no longer living in the same dorm playing table tennis together like in 1984 we had to find a way to achieve our 2012 Paralympic goal living hundreds of miles away from each other. Pam primarily trains in the Dallas area with Coaches Keith Evans and Daniel Rutenberg and my Coach Roman Tinyszin and I train at various locations in Connecticut. Pam and I also try to train together a couple times a year whether it be in Texas or Connecticut. Disabled athletes play in International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) tournaments to try to gain enough world ranking points to move up the world ranking list in their perspective disabled classes in hopes of being ranked high enough so when Paralympic selections are made you can qualify for a Paralympic bid. Keeping that in mind, our first ITTF tournament together was in 2009 at the ParaPan Am games in Margarita Island Venezuela. Due to the low number of female class 2 participants in table tennis most times I have no choice but to play up in female class 3 which means I am at a disadvantage to start because I am forced to compete against athletes less disabled than I. It just so happens that Pam is a female class 3 player so in singles I was up against her and several other players from South America for a medal. Pam wound up winning the Gold Medal in the female singles class 1-3 event and while I did not medal in singles Pam and I won the gold medal in the female class 1-3 team event. This was a confidence builder and led both Pam and I to believe that what started as a far fetched Paralympic dream talked about at the 2008 U.S. Nationals could quite possibly become a reality. Due to the nature of the ITTF World Ranking system the points Pam and I earned in Venezuela would fall off our point total for 2012 Paralympic selections but the success we experienced in Venezuela made us more determined than ever to work as hard as we could to achieve our goal. Knowing that 2011 would be the year Pam and I would have to travel the globe to participate in tournaments for valuable ITTF points we chose to train as hard as we could in the U.S. and only compete together in one ITTF tournament in 2010 in Costa Rica. As a team in Costa Rica Pam and I struggled due to the low number of female class 1-3 athletes entered in this tournament. Pam and I were forced to play in a combined class of 2-5 which put us at a huge disadvantage because we were competing against athletes much less disabled than we are. With Pam being the stronger

player as a class 3 athlete and myself a class 2 there are times I feel Pam would prefer I sit as close to the barrier as possible in doubles so she can hit most of the shots because in wheelchair doubles shots are not alternated. Trusting each other on the table and working as a team is something we needed to work on at this point. Pam did manage to win the Gold Medal in singles class 1-3 though. While playing up in handicap classes can lead to many frustrations on the table tennis table due to physical limitations, Pam and I used this as a learning experience to help us work on the weaknesses in our table tennis games. On to the year 2011, a very important one for gaining ITTF world ranking points in hopes of being ranked high enough to earn a Paralympic bid. I think Pam and I spent more time in 2011 in a plane seat or playing table tennis than we did sleeping in our own beds at home. Being the dedicated athletes that we seem to be but at times questioning our sanity along the way, we traveled from country to country and practiced for countless hours chasing our dream. Pam and I attended tournaments in 2011 in Slovenia, Rotterdam, Milwaukee, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. While Pam and I medaled in some of these tournaments the medal Pam and I are proudest of was the Gold medal we received in teams at the Brazilian Open. That particular Gold Medal was won in the team competition in class 1-5 which means we beat disabled athletes in classes that are less disabled than us being that I am a class 2 athlete and Pam is a class 3. This Team Event at the Brazilian Open was combined like it was the previous year in Costa Rica where we struggled to medal at all. So the frustrations we experienced in Costa Rica to beat players in higher classes than us that pushed us to train harder on our weaknesses seemed to be paying off. Medals were less important in 2011 because most athletes were chasing ITTF World Ranking Points. Through the year valuable World Ranking Points were gained by both Pam and I. On December 31, 2011 after traveling the globe and racking up countless frequent flyer miles Pam ended up 11th on the World Ranking List for Female Class 3 and I wound up 10th on the World Ranking List for Female Class 2. Pam was in a great position for a Paralympic bid because ITTF was selecting 18 athletes from Female Class 3. I was not in such a favorable position because there were 12 Paralympic bids being handed out in the combined class of female 1/2 which most likely was going to put me in the 12th spot which happens to be a Bipartisan Pick. So when the initial Paralympic bids came out on January 15th, 2012 Pam had earned a Paralympic bid and I was on the outside looking in as the number one alternate because the 12th spot which I was in was a Bipartisan Pick. I was battling for the last spot with athletes from France, Great Britain and Brazil. This was an awful spot to be in because now I had to wait until March 12, 2012 to see if I was the chosen one out of the three other athletes to be selected as the Bipartisan Pick. The wait between the initial picks on January 15th and the second round of picks on March 12th seemed like an eternity. I spent countless hours talking and thinking about the position I was in with no control over what the outcome would be. Pam and I wanted our dream to become a reality so badly because at this point Pam had already been selected as a Paralympian and if I was not selected Pam would only be able to play in the Singles Event at the Paralympics and not the Team Event. On the morning of March 12th after waking up every hour of the night to check the website to see if I was selected to be the Bipartisan Pick the information was finally posted about 5:45AM. At first I did not want to open the document because the possibility existed that my Paralympic dream could end up being a nightmare. So with my husbands urging I finally got the courage to open the document and see where I stood. Words cannot express the joy and honor I felt after I saw my name in the 12th and final spot as the Bipartisan Pick to be a member of the 2012 Paralympic Team representing the United States in the sport of Table Tennis. After waiting weeks to hear this awesome news and remembering that Pam had told me countless times that she wanted the news as soon as I found out I decided to call her at 4:45 in the morning Central Time. Pam answered in a not so pleasant tone making me feel happy that I was miles away and she could not choke me for waking her up at that ungodly hour she finally piped up and said “this damn well better be good news” and at that point what better news could I have had for her! The road back to being a Paralympian together for Pam and I started out as a far fetched dream back in December of 2008 and ended up as reality in March of 2012. Who could have asked for a better ending after four years of chasing a dream. Photo by Rick Thigpen 25

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Quest to Be a Winner by Tara Profitt When I returned to table tennis about four years ago I needed to find a local club that was wheelchair accessible. The first local club I visited was just that and I thought the club would work until I doscovered that most players at the club were not willing to play with a beginner, let alone a female beginner in a wheelchair. Feeling alienated, and knowing it would take me awhile to feel welcomed, and in order to obtain the best play possible, I was forced to search for an alternative. My next attempt to find a place to play was at a local senior center. My first experience playing at this senior center went better than the local USATT club a few weeks prior. Coming in as a beginner and a female wheelchair player, to an all male club, was a barrier I had to work hard to break through. After the men at this senior table tennis club finally realized that I was not going away (because I kept coming back week after week and my play was getting better) I felt more and more welcomed. As time went on, more females came to play and now that club has about 20 members with half being women. It just so happens I manage the club now along with a longtime male club member. Later, I started a table tennis club at another local senior center-- so, going between the two clubs allows me to play table tennis five days a week for at least two hours a day at either location. Because I am a class 2 player, and due to the nature of my disability and the physical limitations I have, chances are that my USATT rating will probably not get much higher than 1300. There are 11 classes in Para Table Tennis, with the 11th class being for Intellectually Challenged athletes. The first five classes are wheelchair athletes and the next five classes are standing disabled athletes. As the handicap class goes up, the severity of the disability and physical limitation goes down. While the competition and skill level at the local senior center clubs I manage is basic compared to the level at most USATT clubs, I feel that it fulfills my needs as a class 2 player in many different ways. I feel fortunate to have my senior center members, they are some of my biggest fans and supporters and are more than happy to do whatever it takes to help me achieve my table tennis dreams. I do frequent USATT clubs in Connecticut. I play at the Lower Naugatuck Valley Table Tennis Club in Shelton, CT which just happens to be managed by my coach Roman Tinyszin-- and I also play at The Pratt and Whitney Table Tennis club in East Hartford, CT managed by Ernest Virgo. It was my great fortune to attend the LNVTTC back in May of 2008 for a tournament and here I approached Roman about being my coach after recommendations from several others. I think he was a little apprehensive at first because he had never coached a wheelchair player before, but he was willing to give it a try to see what would happen. (Little did he know what he was getting into, and at times, I imagine he wonders as to why he took me on as a student.) Certainly, it appears that we worked it out because Roman helped me achieve every table tennis goal I set for myself since I started playing again... including my ultimate goal of becoming a 2012 Paralympian. I practice with Roman at least once a week. There was a learning curve at first because some strategies of the wheelchair game are different than the able-bodied game. Play can vary depending upon the handicap class the athlete is in. As I said, I am a class 2 player; I play with my racquet strapped to my hand, and I am unable to adjust my grip on the racquet at all which can make some shots harder to achieve. Roman and I do the standard forehand, backhand, and multi-ball drills. We also work on deep serves, angle shots, and shovel shots. Shovel shots are usually high arcing shots that land on your opponents side of the table within about six inches of the net. (If you can hit a shovel shot with a lot of backspin so the ball bounces just over the net on your opponents side and bounces away from them, usually the point is yours.) These shots are used mostly in wheelchair play due to the limited reach and mobility of 26

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

wheelchair athletes. If your opponent cannot reach the ball there is no way to win the point. Roman and I play matches with him sitting in a chair to simulate the matches that I experience when up against other wheelchair players. At first Roman was a little intimidated playing this way because it was a totally different style of play for him. I think this quote from the Hartford Courant sums up his initial experience: “You put that ball right there where she can hit it aggressively and you’re sitting there — there’s nowhere you can hide. You’re stuck in the chair. When I first sat down, I was intimidated, I really was.” Being that Roman is an able-bodied player, his limitations are far less than mine-- so if I do not try to keep the ball away from him or jam him at his elbow, I am in trouble-- especially if I do not keep the ball away from his backhand. Now that Roman is comfortable playing in a chair our matches can get a little heated due to my overly competitive nature. There are times I wish I could place the ball where he has to stretch just enough to tumble from his perch on the opposite end of the table. Not to hurt him or anything, but just to send a message! I cannot thank Roman enough for the time and dedication he has given to me along with his willingness to learn the wheelchair game. Unfortunately there are a limited number of coaches with knowledge of the wheelchair game, so I would also like to thank all the other coaches out there who take the time to learn the game and embrace wheelchair table tennis athletes. Now that I have established myself in the sport of table tennis and am accepted at any USATT club I decide to play at, I think we as the USATT community need to embrace new members that frequent our clubs regardless of skill level or personal situation. The only way to grow a sport and encourage participation is to make table tennis a positive experience for all. In my case had I given up after my first experience at a USATT club there would be one less Paralympian representing Team USA in London this year.

Getting Started in Para Table Tennis by Tara Profitt and Pam Fontaine Para Table Tennis(PTT) are the code words for “table tennis for athletes with disabilities.” Para table tennis is played all over the world and allows disabled persons to compete on both the national and international levels. If personal experiences in PTT are any indication, table tennis can be a rewarding and positive experience in a disabled person’s life. Currently there are not many athletes involved in PTT in the United States. My hope in writing this article is to broaden the knowledge of the USATT community as to the opportunities out there for athletes with disabilities within the sport of table tennis. While you may not fit the bill yourself, maybe your neighbor will, and word of mouth will help build the PTT community in the US. Whether it be a disabled friend of yours or your child’s, or a wounded veteran of war, or any other disabled person, PTT is open to most in all disability groups (except the visually impaired). To become eligible to participate in PTT events a person has to have some form of a permanent physical disability. Whether a person was born with a disability or became disabled due to illness or accident it does not matter. Athletes need to be seen by a classifier to determine if the nature of their disability falls within the guidelines to be a PTT athlete. Table tennis athletes are classified into classes ranging from 1 to 10. Class 11 was recently added to PTT and is for Intellectually Challenged athletes. Classes1 to 5 are for athletes competing in wheelchairs, while classes 6

to 10 are disabled athletes that compete standing. As the class number goes up the severity of the disability goes down. The purpose of classification is to create fair and equitable play. The process involves an assessment by a certified classification officer. It considers the limits of an athlete’s range of movement, muscle strength, locomotor restrictions, balance, and ability to handle the racket. To be classified, a player will have to attend an ITTF tournament or be seen at a classification clinic at a major tournament in the United States. Para table tennis follows the rules of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) with only a slight modification to the serve for those athletes competing in wheelchairs. When serving in singles to wheelchair classes, the serve must come off the end of the table, it cannot exit the table off the side. When a disabled player visits your club for the first time treat the person as you would any other beginner that comes to your club. While the person may look or play differently, you should still feel encouraged to hop on a table with them and make them feel welcomed. The only way to grow PTT in the United States is with cooperation from our local USATT clubs. If you should need additional information regarding getting someone started in PTT in the United States please contact the USATT Para Program Manager jasnausa@ hotmail.com Additional information can also be found on the website www.ipttc.org

High Speed - Quick Reactions – Mental Preparations

Stock Photo: StockXchng

Training for London

by Pam Fontaine

Being a Paralympic athlete in the sport of table tennis definitely has it’s trials and tribulations. As a former Paralympic athlete for ten years in the sport of wheelchair basketball the first lesson I needed to learn was that player profiling has nothing to do with that players ability to play and exceed in the sport of table tennis. As a basketball player, often times just by watching our opponents in warm-ups it would apparent that they stood no chance of winning based on speed and strength. However, what I realized in the sport of table tennis is that a player’s physical appearance has little bearing on their performance. Instead, it is the psychological aspect (which includes controlling the tempo, pace, attitude, and emotional equilibrium) that is most important. I have been pounded easily by girls that are inferior to my strength and speed, because their mental aptitude and technical skills were superior to mine. Therefore, it was important for me, in competing at a high level, to find a balance of both physical and mental preparation for the sport. Another difference I have found training for table tennis versus my other sports is that table tennis actually requires more preparation time. I spend multiple hours on the table practicing serves, multiball, individual drills, practice matches, and off table time watching videos, visualization, journaling, goal setting, positive talk and thoughts, and staying focused on improving the technical aspects of the sport. I can honestly say there is no fast track in the sport of table tennis. To reach an elite level requires time, dedication, and focused preparation. As a player, the harder you work, along with your willingness to listen to coaches and try new drills to improve your weaknesses,

will help to achieve your individual goals. It’s easier said than done because it’s our nature to work on our strengths so we can feel good about ourselves. Working on your weaknesses is frustrating and it makes you feel vulnerable, but our largest gains can occur during those training sessions. Unfortunately, it’s often not realized and our tendencies to revert back to our comfort zone kicks in and we abandon the sessions that could actually have the greatest impact. This is the time a coach can make a huge difference. Strongly suggesting that we continue to follow a previously devised plan and not altering from it, will in the end permit us to meet our goals. Setting realistic expectations is imperative for a player’s mental framework. Setting goals that are too high without adequate time to achieve it can be devastating for an athlete. Consequently, developing a plan that will fit into your lifestyle is important to maintain individual accountability. Lastly, it’s vital to have a dream. Dreams are imaginings of what we can make happen in our lives. It gives us direction and hope to accomplish things that are bigger than us. After my automobile accident that left me paralyzed from the chest down I never gave up on my dreams. Actually it made me work harder than ever to prove that I can still accomplish anything that I set my mind to. My original vision for myself may have been altered slightly but never allowed to perish. Our dreams require small steps and these practical steps build a strong foundation for success. Now it’s up to each of us to rise to the occasion. What’s your dream?

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Art.No:30-008 M38

Art.No:30-008 S32

Art.No:30-008 H48

TOPENERGY H48 /M38 / S32 Created from three years of relentless development comes Giant Dragon's new integrated high-performance technology: TR.TENSION II, introduces special polymer material to the rubber and sponge giving a huge improvement in performance, in addition to a new high porous sponge to provide both better speed and spin. The rubber surface undergoes special treatment. The high adhesiveness and high resistance produces strong spin. This is a very tacky, chinese style rubber meant for powerful close to the table loop/attack. SPEED: 13.5 SPIN: 11.5 THICKNESS: 1.75 / 1.95 / 2.15 MM

【TR.Tension Ⅱ Technology】 Due to special process with TR.Tension Ⅱ Technology the high polymer material be modified,which help the inner energy of the rubber and sponge improved considerably, in addition to the new high porous sponge increased stored energy to provide both better speed and spin.

POWER PONG AND ENDLESS FOOD AND FUN SUMMER CAMPS 7225 Edinger Unit “K” Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 280-6821 * www.powerpong.org

High level coaches and training partners. Swimming Pool, Laser Tag, Arcade, All you can eat buffet... Housing

Fees: $350/week

Summer camp dates

Best Western, (714) 898-4043 Special rates for table tennis players. Breakfast included at no extra charge

Daily schedule: 9am-12pm, and 2-5pm

June 18-21, 25-28 July 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 30-Aug 2 Aug 6-9, 13-16, 20-23

Coach Yuanyuan Liu - Honored as Chinese National First Level Player of Table Tennis MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

2007 Champion of Junior Girl's single, Chongqing Table Tennis Championship 2008 Champion, Table Tennis Championship of Chongqing Middle School 2010 First runner-up of Women's Team, China National Grade A Table Tennis League 2010 Champion of Women's Single in Table Tennis, Chongqing Sports Games 2011 Champion of Women's Single, University Championship Tournament of Chongqing

Coach Yi Peng - Honored as Chinese National Second Level Player of Table Tennis MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

2004 Girls’ Team Champion, Sports School Table Tennis Invitational Tournament, Singapore 2007 The 3rd place, Junior Girl's single of Guizhou Province, China 2009 Champion of Girl's single, "Jianqiao Cup" Table Tennis Tournament of partly provinces in China

Coach ATTILA MALEK - Former U.S. National Champion

USATT Certified National Coach

Please send form with full payment to: Attila Malek, 13731 Olympic Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Name ________________________________________________ Age_______USATT Rating_____________ Phone _________________________________________________________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________________________ Type of Payment: cash _____ check _____ Credit _____ Amount received _____

Liebherr World Men’s Team Championship (2012) By Tim Boggan Dortmund, Germany, site of the 2012 51st World Team Championships, has a particular interest for U.S. table tennis buffs, for more than half a century ago it was here in 1959 that the U.S. had its last chance to win a major World title. In the Men’s Singles, Dick Miles had beaten Hsu Yinsheng, future President of the ITTF, then another Chinese, Yang Juihua, whom he was later to play a friendly “Old Boys” match with on that historic “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” trip the U.S. took to China in 1971. Having reached the semi’s, Dick was leading Jung Kuo-Tan two games to one, and, though ahead mid-game in the fourth, fell in the fifth to this Chinese, the eventual Champion over Hungary’s Ferenc Sido. For Germany, the previous Dortmund World’s in 1989 was especially memorable because Jorg Rosskopf, current Coach of the German Men’s Team, and Steffen Fetzner won the Men’s Doubles. Now this year the U.S. men, coached by former German International Stefan Feth, had an accompanying rarity, an entirely native-born Men’s Team playing here in Dortmund. But, while supportive of one another, this Team—Adam Hugh, Mike Landers, Grant Li, Barney Reed, and Tim Wang—had no experienced player, no professional, the Team could count on to rally them, keep them in contention to come first in their inherited Third Division. In winning 6 out of 9 ties, they finished not as best they could, World #49, but World #53. Of course it’s First Division play that will determine the Champion, so that’s what I’m necessarily preoccupied with here. Initially, 24 teams, divided into four round robins of six teams each, contest for the title. The

top three in each of these four groups (A, B, C, and D) advance to Single Elimination play for positions #1-12; the bottom three for positions #13-24. Other Divisions, following the same 24-player format, extend to120 Men’s teams. Championship Division—Round Robin Matches I’ll begin with the Championship Division’s Group A matches. Such was the divide here that China 5-0/15-0 finished first, and Slovenia 0-5/2-15 finished sixth. Hong Kong, losing only to China, was a clear 4-1/12-3 second— though, in beating Sweden 3-0, it had just edged out two of the matches 1210 in the fifth and the third also in five. Which meant that for the coveted third position the drama centered on the remaining three teams—Sweden, Greece, and Korea DPR (North Korea)—all of which finished with 2-3 records. How was the tie-breaker resolved? Korea DPR began by downing Sweden 3-1 (with Par Gerell—he comes from the famous glassware town of Vaxjo— losing, as if a little glassy-eyed, two five-gamers). Then in the fourth round, Greece (all three of its players contributing) defeated #4 finisher Korea DPR, 3-1. And finally in the sixth and final round, Sweden, who’d 3-2 survived its penultimate match with Slovenia—1991 World Champion Jorgen Persson coming through at the end—blanked #5 finisher Greece. (Former flamboyant Greek star Kalinikos Kreanga, his ranking fallen to World #60, is now opting to spend less time with table tennis and more with his family.) With this final blitz, Sweden finished 2-3 (4-3), Korea DPR 2-3 (4-4) and Greece 2-3 (3-4). Thus Sweden at least theoretically stayed in contention for the Championship. In Group B, Germany, drawing the expected loyal and enthusiastic crowds, matched A Group China’s 5-0/15-0 opening, while the Czech Republic, losing two 3-2 killer matches, finished sixth. The Czechs were beaten, first, by Serbia. Three-time U.S. Open Champ Aleksander Karakasevic took two. “Hands of gold,” someone said of Kara—“such a feeling, such an exquisite touch for angling the ball, especially in doubles.” The Czechs Dmitrij

Coach Stefan Feth, Grant Li, Michael Landers, Adam Hugh, Timothy Wang, and Barney Reed Jr. Photo by Diego Schaaf 30

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Prokopcov and 40-year-old Petr Korbel won two from Zolt Pete, but my Highest- Lob Award goes to Zolt in his match with Andre Silva of Portugal. Not only did I see this year the highest lobs I’ve ever seen but the most far-traveling mishits—lotta energy out there. Hero in this tie, along with Karakasevic, was the Serbian #3 (the #3 positioned player plays only one match), Marko Jevtovic, who bested the valorous Czech, Lubomir Jancarik, in an unusual 6, 8, -19, 2 finish. The Czechs again went down, 3-2, to Spain—this despite an opening two-match sweep, after which all three Czechs lost in five-games. Portugal, playing without their injured #1 Thiago Apolonia, pulled off an opening every-game-close win against Spain when their World #54 Jiao Monteiro— somebody said for the first time—defeated World #73 He Zhiwen. When penholder He serves, the paddle goes up by his ear. Once whiffing a shot, he dropped said paddle, retrieved it from the Gerflor and immediately showed it to the umpire—he knows the rules. And so do his teammates. When in the first game of the next match, Spain’s Carlos Machado, at 9-all, is faulted, he complains. And, wow, when in the second game, down 9-10, he’s faulted again, you can bet, yellow card or no yellow card, another official is called for. The offense: Machado hasn’t thrown the ball “near vertically.” This rule particularly, in match after match I’ve watched for years, is so inconsistently enforced or not enforced in the eye of the subjective beholder that to call it—twice in the late end-game, and only then—is tantamount to intruding in favor of Machado’s opponent. Table Tennis is a head game, and the umpire knows the power he has and the disruption he’ll cause. And should an Evaluator, like here in Dortmund our Wendell Dillon, be watching, I’d hope in his evaluation he’d raise a question about these questionable, and to me injudicious, calls. The Letter of the Law, if you can find it here, is one thing, the Spirit of it is another. The Fault in question, as one philosopher long ago put it, can be traced to “the conceptual enemy of the intuitive real.” No, Spain did not beat Portugal, nor win a match. Portugal’s second-place 3-2 finish over Singapore, led by Marcos Freitas’s win over Gao Ning, didn’t do in the Singaporians. They had an early 3-2 win over #5 finisher Spain when, after Machado, younger brother of the Spanish Association’s President, had won two for Spain, Singapore’s Yang Zi stopped He Zhiwen, 11-8 in the fifth. Then in the fourth round, Singapore followed with another 3-2 win—over Serbia that allowed them and not the Serbs to advance as #3. Serbia lost its last two matches in this deciding tie— Karakasevic was beaten by Gao Ning, and Zolt Pete (not Pete Zolt) by Yang, whose father, I heard, was Manager of a pro football team in Beijing. Group C saw, right off the bat (it was some first-round 8:00 P.M. eyeopener), Korea Republic (South Korea) sneak by Chinese Taipei, 3-2, and so avoid a loss in this Group. Down 2-0 in matches to a much inferior team on paper, Korea staged the most exciting rally of any early-round play: Ryu Seung Min stopped Chang Hung Chieh in straight games. But, then, oh, did Oh Sang Eun have to work—Ohver Chuang Chih-yuan, 14-12 in the fifth. And there was labor likewise, 12-10 in the fifth, for Joo Se Hyuk over Chen Chien-An. But despite such resistance, Chinese Taipei did not come second in the Group—Austria, losing only to Korea, beat them 3-1 (though had Chen not lost a 12-10-in-the-fifth thriller to Robert Gardos, Chinese Taipei would have had a 2-0 start and the outcome might well have been different). However, when in their last tie, France and Simon Gauzy succumbed in a 13-11-in-the-fourth last gasp, Chinese Taipei went on to Positions #1-to12 play, and France, along with #5 Hungary and #6 Denmark did not. The Danes were again without 2009 European Champion Michael Maze, who if he doesn’t start to compete is gonna go from World #22 to World # nothing? In Group D, at the end of the second round, #1 seed Japan, who’d opened by blitzing Belarus, was 3-1 surprised by #5 Poland. After Koki Niwa had a straight-game win over Daniel Gorak, Seiya Kishikawa, up 2-0, went down 12-10 in the fifth. Cause for worry? Surely not—Maharu Yoshimura was up 2-1. Only he, too, lost…in a sickly 11-5-in-the-fifth match to Bartosz Such. Such an ending—for Kishikawa was back and again went south in the fifth. So, o.k., Japan lost a tie, so what? Did it matter? Just maybe. The winner of each Group, since 12 advanced, would be given a bye in the reduced (fourmatches-only) eighth’s—and of course it was important to have that bye. True, Belarus might have only one loss too, but the head-to-head tie-breaker would go to Japan. So, c’mon, was Japan, sitting out Kishikawa, gonna lose its last tie to the Slovak Republic, the 6th seed in the Group? No way… Except Jun Mizutani, World #8, did have to go five in the first match of that

US Team Results:

The men entered the tournament as the top seed in the Third Division (the 49th rated team of 120 entries). The best that they could have finished would have been 49. However, the coveted prize of each division is to finish in the Top 2 and move up to a higher division for the next championships. The US finished fifth in their Division (53rd overall). In their Round Robin (“Group J”), Team USA lost to Lithuania 1-3, lost to Ecuador 2-3, defeated Qatar 3-0, defeated Malaysia 3-0, and defeated Montenegro 3-0. Lithuania won the group with 5 wins and no losses. Team USA finished second, having tied with Malaysia with a 3-2 record but advancing due to the head to head results. In the Second Stage, Team USA needed to advance to the final in order wo finish first or second and move up to Division 2. In order to accomplish this, the draw would have required beating Cyprus, then the Dominican Republica, and then either Thailand or Lithuania. Team USA defeated Cyprus 3-0 in the first round, but then fell to the Dominican Republic 0-3. The Dominicans have a solid team with international experience that includes Lin Ju who is a Chinese trained modern defender with a US rating of 2733 (and a World Ranking that has been as high as 49 in past years), Juan Vila Batista who won the Pan Am Juniors in 2008 and has a World Ranking of 485, and Emil Santos with a World Ranking of 479. The US Team matched up against them with Adam Hugh (World Ranking 465), Timothy Wang (World Ranking 462), and Barney Reed (World Ranking Unr). The US Ratings and World Rankings of the two teams made them look evenly matched with Lin Ju (DOM) as the clear top player and the other five with similar rating and ranking numbers. The results did not turn out well for Team USA. The first match was three close games to Lin Ju who defeated Adam Hugh 11-8, 11-7, and 11-7 in straight games. The second match was a quick start by Juan Vila Batista who ran off three straight dominating wins over Timothy Wang 11-4, 11-4, and 11-4. And finally, after losing the first game 14-12, Barney Reed lost to Emil Santos 3-0 as well. The Dominican Republic moved on to edge out Lithuania 3-2 before falling in the Final to Paraguay 1-3. Both Paraguay and the Dominican Republic will advance to Division Two. The US then moved to a Consulation Round to decide positions 53-56. Team USA defeated Thailand 3-0, and then defeated Latvia 3-1 securing the 53rd position. Photo: Timothy Wang by Rick Thigpen

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Photo:Wnag Hao serves to Patrick Baum by Diego Schaaf

tie with Peter Sereda, World #148. Japan was nervous? Then in the second match, oh, oh—Thomas Keinath, not quite strong enough to make the German Team, had bought a $500 membership in the Slovak Republic as it were, and had downed Koki Niwa in four. Tie 1-1. Now in the third match, Kenji Matsudaira, World #48, was behind 2-1 to Michal Bardon, World #186. What was going on? Japan’s youth were definitely a little shaky. But, yeah, alright, Matsudaira regained control. And Mizutani had no trouble at all with the energetic two-time U.S. Open Champ Keinath. When in their last tie Poland swept by Russia, 3-0, the best the Russians (2-3) could do in this Group was fourth. Meanwhile, IF, in their last tie, Croatia could beat Belarus, three teams, Poland, Croatia, and Belarus, would be tied for the second and third positions. But 42-year-old defender Evgueni Chtchetinine got Belarus off to an 11-9 fifth-game win (how the crowd cheered in appreciation for his wide-ranging “gets”), and Vladimir Samsonov overwhelmed both Andrej Gacina and veteran Olympian Zoran Primorac (you could see how fit Primorac was though, skipping rope in the Practice Hall). Thus Belarus secured a #2 finish. Poland (3-2) would place third. Croatia (2-3) fifth. And the shut-out Slovaks sixth. Eighth’s In the abbreviated Eighth’s, Austria defeated Poland, 3-1—with Gardos (now back from playing in Spain and married) winning two, and 2008 U.S. Open Champ Chen Weixing one. Chinese Taipei prevailed over Hong Kong, 3-2. Back and forth wins and losses here from first to last. Chinese Taipei’s 31-year-old Chuang ChihYuan, 2002 Pro Tour Grand Final Singles winner, took the lead with an 11-9-in-the-fifth squeaker over Leung Chu Yan. I really like penholder Leung’s unhurried, fluid, swept-back/swept through forehand. But would you believe such an experienced player mis-served at 9-all in the fifth! Then Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi scored in four over Chen Chian-An. Following that, Taipei’s #3, Wu Chih-Chi, beat Tang Peng who’s one of the few players to use short pips on the backhand, and the only one to be married to Tie Yana of the Hong Kong Women’s team. Jiang 2-2 evened the tie with a win over Chuang. But Chen—the court by this time surrounded by vest flapnumbered photographers—came back in the fifth match to defeat Leung in four after he’d stubbornly 13-11 resisted in the third. Belarus’s Samsonov couldn’t have opened stronger. He was up 6-0 on Singapore’s World #388 Pang Xue Jie when on the companion table with the same starting time the players hadn’t played a single point. Weirdly, in the second match, Singapore’s World #21 Gao Ning was also down 6-0 in his opener against Belarus’s aging but still very agile defensive star, World #79 Chtchetinine. But then, down 2-1 in games, Gao 11-9 in the fourth escaped, and easily took the fifth. The Belarussian, who hasn’t always the best practice situation, says he plays with a fellow “down the road.” How’s the guy do?” someone asked him. “Topspin’s getting better,” says Chtchetinine. Gaining the 2-1 advantage for Singapore, Yang Zi, winner of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, prevailed over Belarus’s #3 Pavel Platanov, 15-13 in the fourth. Then, despite having the largely European crowd with him (how they love it when lobbing, lobbing, lobbing their Vladi suddenly counters for the point), Samsonov could not muster much of a challenge and was beaten in straight games by Gao. Sweden romped over Portugal, 3-0—in three four-game matches, the most extended of which was Par Gerell’s 16-14 win over Marcus Freitas. Quarter’s China made its late-round debut over Austria, 3-0. Gardos won a 1210 game from 2008 Olympic Champion Ma Lin—then took a bow to appropriate applause. In the Korea Republic’s 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei, there wasn’t a four or five-game match in the tie. The order of play had changed since their First Stage 3-2 tie—now there was no Oh over Chuang, 14-12 in the fifth, no Joo over Chen, 12-10 in the fifth. Defender Joo couldn’t get Korea started on the right foot against the explosive Chuang, but that was the end of Taipei’s move towards a medal. Oh Sang Eun, whom people credit for having, back in the ‘90’s, changed Korea’s reliance on Yoo Nam Kyu-penholder play to a shakehands two-sided attack, downed lefty Chen Chien-An, 2008 World Junior Champ. And after Ryu showed he was much too accomplished for hefty World #164 Wu, Joo was back to make amends for his hard-to-understand earlier loss to World #100 Chen. Japan—the average age of its players this tie against Singapore only USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012 32

20—looked, on completion of the first six games, to have all play wel1controlled, and as a reward were being cheered from the Halle’s top tier by a pocket of spectators waving a Japanese flag. Mizutani stopped Pang Xue Jie, reportedly once the Chinese National Champion (though against a weak field). Then, though Koki Niwa’s wins were delayed by a nose bleed and Gao Ning’s two 13-11 threats, he continued Japan’s momentum. Until of course it was stopped. Against Kenji Matsudaira, the powerful Yang Zi won the first from 7-2 up, but then lost the second from the same score. Then, in grave danger of blowing the third after the young Japanese had again rallied to deuce it from 10-5 down, Yang staggered to a 12-10 win. “Chee-na” I hear. Huh? Oh, it’s the Halle announcer, keeping the largely German audience he’s very partial to, abreast of a Woman’s match. After Zi’s shakiness was blessed by another early lead, it dissipated, and he finished off Kenji in four. That left in the fourth match Singapore’s ever dangerous Gao, down 2-0 to Mizutani, to find his own momentum. And he did—won the third, the tight fourth, but then in the even tighter fifth had 1311 finally to give way. Mizutani socks in Gao’s last serve so spectacularly that it just passes him by, and, purged of pressure, the young Japanese falls pleasurably to the floor. The Germany-Sweden tie saw only Timo Boll give up a game to Sweden— in a crowd-pleasing 3, -11, 6, 2 rout of Jens Lindqvist. Patrick Baum stopped Par Gerrel. And Dimitirj Oftcharov, a felt power since he won the European Junior’s in back-to-back years (2005/2006), and who now holds his highest World ranking ever (#10), downed Jorgen Persson. Sweden has no higherranked player than World #57 Persson, now 46 years old. The Swede’s glory days—going back to when he won the European Championships at 18—are alive now only in year- after-year xeroxed memories. Semi’s In the first China-Korea semi, Ma Long got off to a fast 11-2, 11-7 start against 2005 U.S. Open Champion Oh Sang Eun. Then, though down 6-3 in the third game, he tied it up 6-6. Which caused Oh to take a tactical Tissot time out (the tournament-sponsoring watch company’s name was visible on the electronic scoreboards just off the courts). Oh returns and fast-serve catches Ma off guard. But he can’t put two winning points together. Down 8-7, it’s as if he directs Ma to full-swing angle the ball directly to its target, Oh’s racket, for, so super-quick is the rebound from it, the Chinese can’t touch the return. Ma can’t win from 10-9, but he can from 12-11. Ryu Seung Min, whom everyone remembers as winning the 2004 Olympic Games, but can’t remember him winning anything else, takes the first game ,11-4, from Wang Hao who not only won an Olympics himself (2008) but the World’s as well (2009). However, in the second and third games, Wang is dashing around, shouting with every winning point, and has convincing11-5, 11-3 wins. Then from 8-all in the fifth, continuing to show energy and enthusiasm, he runs out the game. In the second semi, Germany’s #2, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, opens against Japan’s #1 Jun Mizutani and from 6-all bombards him point after point with one-ball snap backhands he’s helpless against. The second half of the second and third games, however, are not won so easily. It takes Ovtcharov four ads to 15-13 eke out the second. But he’s rewarded by a group of Germans singing and waving the German flag. Then in the third, though up

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Photo: Zhang Jike by Diego Schaaf

10-7 triple-match-point, he’s forced to 13-11 scramble for his win. Next up, lefty Timo Boll vs. lefty Koki Niwa, 2010 Olympic Youth Games and 2011 World Youth Championships winner. Of course Boll is a huge favorite with the audience. And maybe he is with the young Japanese too. For, after losing the first game 11-5, Niwa makes a series of errors from the mid-game second that drops him into a two-gamesdown Japanese sand-dunes pit. Can he dig out? Again he’s at 6-all. But it’s his final mis-hit ball that’s high, not his psyche. Boll, to massive CLAPS along the way, 3-0. The Germans are up 2-nil this tie. Still, the third match of the tie looks to be a dead-even one—World #17 Kishikawa vs. World #18 Baum. In the first game, a whirligig of a 5-4 wind-up forehand goes in—make that 6-4 two whirligigs—for the wired Japanese youth. Then, holding to his lead, up 10-9 he scores down Baum’s open forehand. In the second, from 6-all, Kishikawa runs it out. So, 2-0 down—let’s hear some CLAPS! Ah, that’ll do it—8-1 for Germany. But in the fourth game, behind 5-4, Baum pushes a weak return back and…he’s 9-5 down. He rallies, however, until Kishikawa forces him back and cleanly puts away his lob return. Germany 2-Japan 1. Boll is back to claps, and caps his return by going 6-1 up on Mizutani. Like a ball from a T-BOLL! mishit, the German’s game is 9-5, 11-6 soaringly high. An article in the Tournament Program says, “Nobody can compete with Timo’s eye and intuition. ” And it’s true he counters in winners you think shoulda been winners for the other guy—yep, T-BOLL! looks very much in charge. Of course this Japan #1 IS World #8 and this IS the World Championship. But in the second, from 8-7 up, Mizutani falters. Among his errors: he didn’t seem ready for a Boll serve and follow; then tried a much-too-angled return of serve…off. In the third at 3-all, I was surprised to see Boll hesitate—he didn’t know what to do with the ball, then put it in the net. But he went on to win a long counter-exchange and go up 8-5. By now there must be 11,000 people in the stands—and T-BOLL! T-BOLL! couldn’t disappoint them, right? Of course not—he was up double-match-point, and his supporters were already clapping and singing. But Mizutana got to 9-10 on a perfect placement. Then Timo, on the run, banged in a forehand, then tried for a backhand too, but it didn’t go in. Then he lost another point, and— CLAPS! CLAPS!— Mizutani missed the game-winner. He didn’t get another winning chance. A great moving-all-around-the-court exchange brought Boll the penultimate point, and a sharp wristy kill the clincher. Final It’s that much anticipated time—Sunday afternoon—and the Final is upon us. Chinese Coach Liu Guoliang couldn’t be more conspicuous in bright yellow sneakers. He and his players are led in by the apparently de rigueur Tournament Mascot—someone (or ones) named Rackedino who’d been parading around for days sheathed in an animal costume not meant to be ridiculous. They come through a corridor formed by a cheerleading acrobatic troupe that had periodically been entertaining the audience. The Chinese, conscious of the attention given them, wave informally to the audience. The usual individual introductions of the players and officials are made to prolonged cheers, especially for the Germans. If they don’t win, it won’t be for want of support. The Chinese open with their World Champion Zhang Jike, and Germany counters as best they can with Boll. As flash cameras go off in various sections of the Halle and there are repeated T-BOLL! cheers, the players go at each other very evenly. At 9-all, Boll hits one in, but it rockets back so fast he can’t follow up. Then, after deucing it, he goes ad down, and must have been startled when Zhang, unimpressed with Timo’s serve, backhands it in to win the game. CHIN-a!...T-BOLL! The players and the cheers for them weren’t going to change. Which wasn’t a comfort to Boll, for, down 9-3 in the second, he lost that game too. And starting the third with a point-winner, Zhang with seemingly unlimited energy was jogging round the court. Later the scorekeeper will make a mistake—bring German Coach Rosskopf up off the bench to ask, What’s happening? But it’s o.k., Rossi, it’s o.k.—the score’s been corrected, and, yes, Timo’s won the third 11-9. In the fourth, Boll’s countering well, and, up 10-6, has taken over the attack. Then, another scare…it’s suddenly 10-all! T-BOLL! T-BOLL! But, again, Rossi, it’s o.k. On into the fifth. NOOO! That’s what so many in the stands must have thought, felt—Timo was down 5-0 and Zhang was giving a little leap and hand-thrust up. When,

despite the CLAPS, Zhang, up 9-4, serves and backhands a winning follow into Boll’s middle, everyone knows in his gut that Germany’s chance is almost certainly gone. Of course there’s Ovtcharov. But in the first he’s an 11-3 goner, Ma Long curving that last winner around the net. In the second, however, he’s doing just fine. Never mind that when he’s crouched in that cramped serve position, it’s as if he’s serving off his nose—the German audience will agree he can serve any way he wants so long as he’s up 9-4….Or was. How explain it to the unbelieving spectators: 9-5, 9-6, 9-7, 9-8, 9-9, 9-10, 9-11—Ovtcharov loses seven straight! Think he’ll win the third game? A 3-0 beginning—and World #10’s lost 10 straight. But give him lots of credit. He’ll rise to 10-all, even get the ad—but that’s before he fails to return serve. No, he won’t win this game, this match. So why play the next? But, hey, no World-class competitor can afford to take to heart such a creep-in thought like that. In the third match, against Wang Hao, Germany plays, as they have been, World #18 Patrick Baum, 2010/2011 European Singles runner-up to T-Boll. After their former #3, Christian Seuss, who’d won so many doubles tournaments with Boll was injured, he’d tried to come back to serious play maybe six months too soon and his Nov., 2011 ranking as World #17 dropped precipitously to World # 49. Baum began by mishitting the first ball, but by game’s end he’d zeroed in on his target—won 11-8. Wang had been making errors, playing poorly. Rather soon into the second game however, his whole demeanor changed. By 4-all he was making guttural sounds of encouragement to self—and, taking 7 of the next 8 points, emerged a new player. Home-crowd rhythmic clapping, horn-honking was to no avail. Wang, winning the third 11-5, was too fast, too powerful, too eruptingly there. And yet in the fourth it was Baum who rallied—from 7-3 down to a 7-3 divide in points—10-all… But Germany couldn’t come back, had to watch the Chinese bench slap hands. Soon the winning players were in the center of the court linking salutes to all four corners of the Halle, of the world. It was the 18th time China had won this Championship, and of course they got a sporting ovation. Cameras flashed from all over. Photographers bunched around the Men’s Team Trophy that was standing precariously on an isolated pedestal—it looked like it could be knocked over. A woman came out—we’d seen and heard Paulina before—a paid professional entertainer, who sang, “I’m so excited.” Maybe she was, but I don’t think most of the audience emptying out were.

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Liebherr World Women’s Team Championship (2012) by Tim Boggan As it went with China’s Men in the 24-team Championship Division, so it would go with their Women. In the opening six-team A Group round robin matches (there would also be similar B, C, and D Groups), China was 5-0 (15-0). At the other 0-5 (4-15) extreme, was our USA Team. Still, our players had their moments. In our beginning match against the repeatedly extended #2 finisher Romania (4-1—with three 3-2 stumbles), our Lily Zhang, World #125, upset Daniela Dodean, World #47. This was a major accomplishment, especially after losing that third game 11-2 to go down 2-1 in games and then persevering, unintimidated, to take the 11-9 fifth. Indeed, Lily’s showing-it-can-be-done, come-from-behind win had to be a psychic help to USA #1 Ariel Hsing, World #115, when, down 10-6 in the fifth to that same Dodean, she bravely rallied to 10-10 deuce…only to lose 15-13. USA next went up against Belarus and for the only time played in the four-table Main Halle. In the opening match, during the first two split games, Ariel held her own against Viktoria Pavlovich, World #28, dropping the first game, 14-12, but taking the second 11-8, thus winning 23 points, losing 22. But there was a huge difference in tactics here as Pavlovich, the 33-year-old lean-faced professional, went on to take the last two games from the 16-year-old, not-yet-seasoned Ariel who, though having improved the consistency of her loop against chop, had little of the needed variety in her play to beat this very experienced 2010 European Champion. Again, the U.S. was not shut out, though, for again Lily came through, stopping Alexandra Privalova, World #168, 9, 10, 13. Amazing to me, though, how unresponsive our Women’s bench was to our rallies—the promising player on court rose to the occasion but not our bench. Perhaps

the teenagers didn’t feel it was their “place” to be up and cheering? Following that 3-1 loss to Belarus, Gao Jun played for the only time in these Preliminary matches, against the defensive-minded Ukraine, and handily won her two matches. Afterwards, the Belarus Coach asked to see Gao’s racket. Playfully, she pretended she couldn’t, then smiling let her inspect it. But neither Ariel nor Erica Wu (alternating with Judy Hugh in the one-match-per-tie #3 position) could win the needed closer. After that, we were blanked by Hungary and China—though Lily -9, -8, 9, 13, -6 fought tenaciously against Hungary’s 2010 U.S. Open Champion Georgina Pota, World #35. Later, after losing 3-1 to Croatia and France in Second Stage play, USA was playing Turkey for 23rd-Place. As Romania struggled to finish second in this A Group, Dodean’s two wins were crucial in their 3-2 advance over Hungary. And though Romania (with no at-home defenders) couldn’t defeat Belarus’s Viktoria Pavlovich, Dodean, Bernadette Szocs, and Elizabeta Samara could combine for a 3-2 win over Viktoria’s teammates. But it was Romania’s final 3-2 win over Ukraine that was most important—to Ukraine, too, as World #73 Margaryta Pesotska surely realized with her gritty back-to-back wins over World Top 40 Samara (-9, -10, 14, 9, 1) and World Top 50 Dodean (9, -9, 4, -15, 13). Had Ukraine won this tie, they would have advanced as #2 in the Group. Now they would end up where? The third-place finish in a Group was important, for it advanced that team to the Single Elimination play for positions #1-12 (rather than #1324), thus giving them a little added prestige and a paper chance for the Championship. In this Group A, three teams—Belarus, Hungary, and Ukraine—all finished 2-3. Ukraine opened with a 3-1 might-have-beenreversed win over Hungary (Ganna Gaponova rallying to take the fourth and then the 16-14 fifth game from Petra Lovas, and Pesotska, repeatedly a Pro Tour Under 21 threat, rallying from down 2-0 to 9, 12, 8 snatch victory from Pota). The last ties, however, were key. In the fourth round, Ukraine, having been beaten by China, lost their second match to Belarus. Pesotska, having

Erica Wu, Lily Zhang, Judy Hugh, Coach Doru Gheorghe, Ariel Hsing, and Gao Jun Photo by Diego Schaaf 36

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

a great tournament, got the Ukranians off to an inspired start by upsetting Viktoria Pavlovich. But Viktoria’s sister Veronika won a huge balancing match, coming back from down 2-0 to defeat Tetyana Bilenko, 9, 3, 6. Belarus’s #3 Alexandra Privalova’s two 12-10 games helped give her a win and her team a 2-1 lead, but Pesotska struck again, kept Ukraine alive by pulling out a 14-12-in-the-5th match. Then, as expected,Viktoria mercilessly finished off a hopelessly outclassed Bilenko, 1, 2, 4. That 2-3 fourth-round loss, plus the 2-3 fifth-round one to Romania, gave Ukraine a sour-tasting 2-3 finish. Now, were Hungary, who’d beaten only the U.S., to manage a win over 2-2 Belarus—which, led by Pota’s five-gamer over Viktoria Pavlovich, they did 3-0 convincingly—there’d be a three-way 2-3 tie. With the result that Hungary (4-3) advanced as #3, and the valiant Ukraine (5-4), along with Belarus (3-5), fell into the #13-24 category. Could Group B be so contested? Maybe. Defending Champion Singapore, 5-0, versus the Netherlands, 4-1, was the top-two-positions decider. When in the opening match, the Netherlands’ World #20 Li Jiao, down 2-0 to Singapore’s World #5 Feng Tianwei , took the third game 12-10, and then the fourth and fifth, a buzz started. And after Li’s teammate, World #29 Li Jie, tied up her match with World #8 Wang Yuegu by winning the fourth 12-10, an upset was definitely possible. But eventually unattainable. Wang won, 5 in the fifth. Linda Creemers got 6, 3, 3 creamed by Singapore’s Li Jiawei. And the Netherlands’ Li Jie, after winning the first at deuce, could -7, -7, -8 do no more. Also, in an opening tie, DPR (North Korea) defeated Chinese Taipei, 3-2—with all three of their victories coming in five games, two of them provided by the unranked “sleeper” player Ri Myong Song over World #36 Huang Yi-Hua and World #48 Cheng I-Cheng. In the last round, the Netherlands was 3-2 challenged for its #2 finishing position by Korea DPR. No hint in the beginning matches, though, that this tie would go five. Li Jiao rather routinely 5, 8, 10 did away with Ri Myong Sun, and Li Jie buried Kim Jong, 2, 9, 2. But their Netherlands’ teammate,World #100 Elena Timina, couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead against Kim Hye Song, succumbing 11-9 in the fifth. And now, surprise, Kim Jong, who’d gotten but 13 points total in her previous match, suddenly became a new player against two-time European Champ Li Jiao and—how do such things happen?—6, 4, 1 smote her silly. But then rating-respect sanity returned to the court with Lie Jie’s straight-game win over North Korea’s Ri. Sweden, down 2-1, survived Chinese Taipei by last-minute heroics. World #443 Daniela Moskovits won 13-11 in the fourth, then 11-9 in the fifth to embarrass to the nth degree Huang Yi-Hua and give her teammate Matilda Ekholm the chance to be a co-heroine. Which she was—winning in five over Cheng I-Ching. Sweden, however, lost the hoped-for #3 position to Korea DPR in a (5, 6, 2; 2, 5, 3; 4, 6, 6) wipe-out. Chinese Taipei was fifth. And Turkey, 0-5 (1-15) sixth. In Group C, Japan, 5-0 (15-3), spread out three lost matches, but was never threatened. Germany (4-1) came #2 to #3 Poland (3-2) who actually had less of a struggle than revered Deutschland. Germany was able to get by #4 Spain when, first, Wu Jiaduo (“Du Du”) held 11-9 firm in both her fourth and fifth games against Shen Yanfei (whom—her forehand shortpips produce flat kills—readers may remember having teamed with Gao Jun to take the Women’s Doubles at the 2005 Pro Tour Grand Final). Then Kristin Silbereisen followed with the clincher over Galia Dvorak. Also, Germany and Serbia had a comfortable last-round 3-2 match, for even if Germany would lose it, they’d still be #2, and even if Serbia won, they couldn’t finish in the #1-12 group . Hence both teams gave their weakest players some action—and they all played very even. Germany’s Zhenqi Barthel and 2010 European Junior Girls Top 10 winner Sabine Winter split wins with Serbia’s Gabriela Feher and Monika Molnar, while Germany’s #3 Silbereisen was understandably too strong for World #208 Andrea Todorovic. France, despite World #91 Carole Grundisch’s two wins against Serbia, and their reportedly 200,000 registered players (a great majority of them considered “hobby” players), couldn’t win a tie. Korea Republic (South Korea) had a slightly better record, 4-1 (12-5), than Hong Kong, 4-1 (12-9)—but Hong Kong, though losing 3-2 to Russia, came #1 with a 3-2 head-to head win over the Koreans, and so would draw one of the coveted byes given the Group winners in the 4-tie eighth’s. Against Russia, Hong Kong’s World #10 Tie Yana won her two, but her teammate World #17 Jiang Huajun was upset by both Anna Tikhomirova

and Oxama Fadeema. The decider went to Russia’s 18-year-old Yana Noskova, 14-12 in the fifth, over Ng Wing Nam, one of the new generation of home-grown Hong Kong players. Good-natured fun was made of the fact that back in 1985 at a tournament here in Dortmund Russian Coach Irina Palina had beaten Hong Kong Coach Li Hui Fen, a Silver medalist at the ’88 Olympics, and now again, with the Russian’s Team win here, Palina had “beaten” her again. Strangely, this was the only tie Russia won—and, on losing 3-2 to both the Croats and the Czechs, finished dead last. Croatia put together a community effort by Tamara Boros, Cornelia Molnar, and Tian Yuan over respectively Tikhomirova, Noskova, and Fadeeva. But this was the only tie #5 finisher Croatia could win. Boros, 34, once World #2, now World #111, though not giving up playing, has just signed to coach at the prestigious Werner Schlager Academy just outside Vienna. Another communal win, this time from the Czechs—by Iveta Vacenovska (from down 2-0 to Noskova), Dana Hadacova, and Renata Strbikova (whom someone described fondly as a “‘character’/exhibitionist/joker”)—again did in the Russians. Afterwards, when Korea Republic’s #1 Kim Kyung Ah was positioned as #3 for a sure winner (7, 8, 4), that meant either Hong Kong’s Tie Yana or Jiang Huajun would have to take two. As play progressed, both Tie and Jiang won at their first opportunity. But then in the fourth match, Tie was beaten by Seok Ha Jung in five. However, Jiang, atoning for her losses to Russia, did 13-11-in-the-fourth hang tough, and bring Hong Kong to the quarter’s. The #3 finisher would be determined via the Czech Republic-Austria tie. This went 3-1 unexcitedly in four three-straight matches to Austria— Austrian newcomer Elena Waggermayer losing the #3-positioned match to Katerina Penkavova. Eighth’s Against Romania, Poland played their #2 Natalia Partyka in the one-match spot against current European Youth Champ Szocs and, as they assumed, their two-time World Paralympic ace won 6, 3, 9 easily. (Partyka, now 22, was born with one severely shortened forearm just below the elbow, has no wrist or hand at all, but can adroitly stump serve). However, when Poland’s chopper Li Qian (China Open winner last year, and like our Gao Jun from Baoding) could beat Samara but not Dodean, all the pressure was on Katarzyna Grzybowska.Though Grzybowska had lost her first match, this time she was a winner—over Samara, said to have such knee problems she shouldn’t be playing here and might not be able to continue. Only Austria’s Liu Jia, 8, 8, -12, -5, 9 withstanding the Netherlands’ 39-year-old Li Jiao’s “I care” refusal to concede, could keep the Austrians from being blitzed. In the Korea Republic-Hungary tie, World #16 Kim Kyung Ah opens against World #56 Petra Lovas, so no big surprise when the favored 34-year-old Korean rallies from 8-5 down to take the first game 11-9, then

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

starts off the second 5-0. After all, she’s an Olympian, a steady defen— Whoa! What’s this? Lovas just scored on a slam-dunk forehand and is up 9-7! Then goes on to win the game 11-9. The Hungarian has a good loop and can hit hard when she has a chance to go through—but she hasn’t much of a chance in the 11-5 third game. In the fourth, Lovas is up 4-1, caught at 5-all, then is again ahead 9-5. Now, though, Kim shows she, too, can attack…9-7. But reverting to her natural defense, she’s back from the table and Lovas scores with a perfect drop. Kim goes down swinging in another 11-9 game. In the fifth, ah, it’s Kim’s not Lovas’s forehand that goes in and the Korean soon has a 9-5 lead, which proves insurmountable. Korea is playing its listed #2, Park Mi Young, World #23, only sparingly. Word is that two Chinese were bought (hey, the Japanese started the buying) by a Korean League team owner to bolster his team’s play, and that gradually these players—Seok Ha Jung, World #24, and Dang Ye Seo, World #43—came to be naturalized Korean citizens. Now, with Korean names, they, along with Kim, bear the brunt of the play here. Seok against Pota may be a mistake though, for the Korean’s down 10-6....But, er, no mistake—Seok, at 11-all, wins a counter exchange, then whacks in a forehand to take the first game. Georgina is able to challenge—and win—only the third. Now it’s 38-year-old Krisztina Toth, who was making her mark in European Championships almost 20 years ago, against that other ex-Chinese—and, dang, if the Korean isn’t passing Toth with bullets. That is, until the Hungarian goes to what some would consider her forte—lobbing. She takes the third, 12-10, is emboldened to win the fourth, imitatively socking in a forehand, and, from an awful 1-6 start in the fifth, chasing down the ball like a teenager, scores five in a row. Which, unfortunately for her is not enough. Korea, 3-0, moves on to the quarter’s. The women in general are not getting the attention given the men. But there’s a strong turnout for the Germany-Korea DPR tie—and Germany, 3-1, in four four-game ties, gives their 5:00 Friday afternoon supporters at least a little drama. When Ivancan loses her one game, it elicits both a scream and a groan—the scream of delight from Kim Jong, and the groan of defeat from the partisan spectators. But not to worry. Like Ivancan, DuDu dood it—twice. Quarter’s China 3-0 over Poland—6, 5, 3; 5, 9, 8; 7, 3, 3. What did you expect? In the opener of the Hong Kong-Netherlands tie, the score at the end of four games was 47 points for Hong Kong’s 2004 Asian Cup Champion Ti Yana, 47 points for Netherlands four-time Europe Top 12 winner Li Jiao. Flip a coin for the fifth? Sorry, says Ti, just having been the victim of two edge balls in the last three points of the fourth, I play on…for an 11-4 win. Lefty Li, though she served into the table edge that last game, has an uncannily straight-up vertical toss (must have had lots of practice, huh?), but, though some Blue Badge umpires here are sometimes precisely whacky, they didn’t fault her for not throwing the ball up “near vertically.” In the second match, Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun began with a 13-11 win, followed by another, but then Netherlands Li Jie countered with a gutsy 14-12 win of her own, followed by another. End of balancing act, though— same lopsided fifth-game result: Jiang for Hong Kong, 11-3. And now, near buried, the nether-landers are in dutch with destiny—44-year-old Timina can put together only one-game resistance against Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching before going down in the fourth, 11-3. In the first game of the Korea Republic-Japan tie, Japan’s Ai Fukuhara, with her teammates already rising on every winning point, clobbers Kim Kyung Ah, 11-4. But Kim, to accompanying horn hoots, takes both the second and third games 12-10, then loses the fourth. As the fifth moves into its end game, Kim, primarily a marvelously anticipatory defender, isn’t waiting passively for a zinger to come to her. At 7-all, she gets into the right position for a pick, but misses. Then she does smack one in, but it’s super-quick countered. Then, down 9-7, she continues to attack, scores. Now, defending, she makes two fabulous gets but loses the point to a wellplaced drop. Finally, down 10-9, she lobs long, loses. Japan 1—Korea Republic 0. In the match that follows, Seok Ha Jung falls in the fifth to 19-year-old Kasumi Ishikawa after being ignominiously behind 9-1. South Korea’s now down 2-0 to Japan. But then: Dang Ye Seo stops 2011 Spanish Open winner Sayaka Hirano, 3-1, and Seok is three-zip too strong for Fukuhara (from tsunami-hit 38

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Sendai). So, if the South Korean rush is to continue, Kim must beat 2009 World quarterfinalist Ishikawa, recent Under 21 winner at the Pro Tour Open in Doha. This is made more difficult when the Japanese is up 8-4 in the fifth—difficult, but still very possible, for Ishikawa’s lead had been cut to 8-7. Time for a time-out (taken precisely when the companion Men’s table had taken one, and precisely at the same score)…then at 8-all, 8-9, Ishikawa continued south. Kim, meantime, had smacked in two forehands to go up match point. Then, though she had the opportunity, Kim failed to attack again…and it just might cost her and her team big time. But at 12all (play had courteously stopped at the Men’s table), Fukuhara erred, then ended it all, dismayed at a mishit. At the two-two divide before that final game, it was not only the Korean Coach who stood beside Kim for that important advisory moment, but all her teammates who seemed to involve themselves as well. Wasn’t it not so long ago that only the Coach could give advice at such a time? As changes come, maybe one day, as in other dynamic sports, table tennis coaches will be able to give instructive shouts from courtside DURING play? Germany is ready. In the first match of their tie against Defending Champion Singapore—a win assures them of at least a 3rd-4th-Place medal—Irene Ivancan, barely in the World’s Top 50, to the accompaniment of rhythmic claps, claps, and more claps, surprises Singapore’s World #5 Feng Tianwei 1-2-3 straight. Irene represented Germany at the 2005 World’s when she was 16, then sort of disappeared until recently surfacing again, bent on proving she could make the German Team. In the first game, down 10-8, Feng fails to return serve. Then, up 9-7 in the second, she puts Irene’s serve into the bottom of the net, follows by looping the next one off the table, then sees Irene get in a pick, then loops off again. In the third, Irene, down 8-4, but thereafter hitting in balls to audible grunts and capitalizing on Feng’s errors, runs out the game, jumps in delight, and waves happily to the ecstatic crowd. Now when Germany’s #1Wu Jiaduo goes up 2-0 in games on Wang Yuegu, a responsive “Y-M-CA” wave lifts the already high spirits of the home crowd. Not even the debacle of an intruding officious umpire can upend their enthusiasm. He faults Wu who, her hands out expressively, asks Why? He responds by giving her a yellow card. Quite an attention-getter. But never mind. When Du Du does it—wins a great extended point from 8-7 that will start her on her way to finishing the match—the crowd erupts. “I never knew before the advantage of a hometown crowd,” some neophyte exclaims. Wow! Germany’s up 2-0 in six straight games against the current World Champions—what could be sweeter? I’ll tell you what could be sweeter—the seemingly impossible. That would be—in the third match, against the 2004/2005 Pro Tour U.S. Open winner Li Jiawei—for World #61 Kristin Silbereisen, after losing the first two games at 6 and 8, to have, as it were, cause for a courtside 27th birthday celebration…. Yes! says a mesmerized audience—Kristin wins both the third and fourth games 11-9, and I can hear the celebratory toots. One more game for the miracle upset to happen. But in the fifth, Silbereisen is down triplematch-point, 10-7. Then—pandemonium!—10-all! How wonderful for the exuberant fans if Germany can get to the final. But, despite this gutsy performance—a win so near, so far—Kristin loses 14-12. BUMMER! And though Germany’s Wu Jiaduo, down 2-1, is at deuce in the fourth with Feng—battling, “stroke for stroke, in extended rallies of 15 or 20 offthe-bounce counterloops,” as U.S. writer/photographer Diego Schaaf put it, Du-Du can’t do it. Nor in the next match can Ivanova—though she was up 2-1 in games when, as Diego says, departing from her usual defensive game, she “starts using heavy, long, powerful loops and surprising backhand hits to disrupt the Singaporean’s rhythms.” A sensational fivematch try, but for Germany’s women, this year’s magic has come and gone. Semi’s As 4 o’clock play between China and Hong Kong’s about to start, two monitored Liebherr-advertising dirigibles, floating all over the Halle like beluga whales in an aquarium, have to be taken away. Much of the 1 o’clock Germany-Japan Men’s Team audience is no longer around either—we’re in Germany, not China. In the first game of the tie, Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun is making a 9-all match of it before Ding Ning, World #1, tips the balance her way, 11-9—and then, composed, 4, 4 evenly wins the next two.

Have the Chinese any stronger opposition? Why, yes—a 10, 9, -7, 12 win by World #10 Tie Yana over 2011 World runner-up Li Xiaoxia. I see among the spectators one lone Chinese flag and hear a flagging chin-a! voice. Ti, up one game, and with 10 more points in the second, waits, waits, waits while Li, long in serve position, finally decides to give it a go, then is answered by Ti backhanding in a 2-0 winner. Now, from a high-up tier, comes a (What’s going on?) robust CHIN-a! And Li dutifully responds—she wins the third with a hard-hit ball down the middle. But then gets behind 5-0, 7-2 in the fourth—only to rally (CHIN-a! CHIN-a!), indeed, to lead 11-10…12-11. But Ti’s last backhands are too strong—the favorite does not win this match. Tie tied 1-1. But then: 4, 8, 3; 5, 1, 4, and China is no-nonsense familiarly in the final. Korea Republic’s’s Kim (the only player in this tie not born in China) and Singapore’s Feng start off the second semi with the kind of play we expected—Feng is careful, wary of Kim’s chops, so is routinely pushing and mildly looping (“rolling” years ago we called it), patiently waiting for a right ball to attack and ever alert to the possibility of a pick or counter by Kim. Though generally keeping the ball to the Korean’s’s backhand, Feng gives her a forehand opening and goes down game point. But then Kim gets a pop-up, chooses not to hit the ball hard and loses the point. However, Feng, not looking at all like World #5, makes two costly errors—so first game to Korea. The second game of course follows the pattern of the first—this is the way they play one another, often through very long points (Diego Schaff counted a 36-shot rally). The match couldn’t be tighter—Feng wins the second 15-13, and the third 11-9. Then the unexpected happens—a real match-changer: Kim, up 9-0 (with a Korean flag waving in the stands), takes the fourth 11-1. After that, there’s a reversion to their usual play— climaxed finally, with Kim leading 10-7, in a long-awaited Expedite call that pressures Feng to loop and miss. Next, it’s two-wing, hard-hitting Wang over Seok. No expedite here, but the match through four games is 7, -9, -9, 10 close, and had Seok won that fourth game at deuce, the match, the tie, would have profoundly been affected. In the fifth, Wang breaks open the 4-4 game and goes on to an 11-6 finish. Dang then overpowers World # 15 Li Jiawei in straight games—and you see why, though she’s World # 43, listed as Korea’s fifth player, they’re playing her. Korea leads the World Champions, 2-1. No time for Korea to savor the lead though—Feng gives up only eight points total in her first two games against Seok . But then in the third the Korean prevails in their battle of backhand exchanges. Perhaps that’s a win just in time, for suddenly, at 4-all in the fourth, Feng is flat on the floor being treated by one trained to do so. Can she continue? Wang, loosening up in the wings, watches and waits hopefully that she’ll be given a Singapore-saving last chance. Feng does continue, wins 11-8, and now it’s Wang against Kim to see which team gets to play the Chinese in the final. It takes a while to find out. In the first, Wang’s 3-2 down to Kim, then is up 9-3. Balloons that can be bought like elongated Bratwurst, and of course not eaten but beaten, are not so popular here. Claps are much more the preferred noise, though at the 10:00 a.m starting-time there’s not a lot of that either. In the second, the players are at 9-all. Wang loops off, turns away with a swipe of her hand, as if to say, “Don’t count that!” But then Kim misses a half-hearted forehand and it’s 10-all. Wang’s given a point wrongly by the umpire, corrects him without being faulted, then misses a forehand. Tie tied 1-1…. Going into the fifth, with the Halle transformed, packed now for the Germany-Japan one o’clock Men’s Team tie, it’s 2-2 all even. But now the points bunch irregularly—Kim’s up 3-0, down 6-3, victim of a patient sixpoint run.…Then down 9-5… 9-8. And—suddenly—Expedite! Pressure’s on. Korea’s Kim socks in a clean winner—9-all. But Singapore’s Wang responds by also hitting in a clean winner, then wins the 11-9 last point. Singapore is again in the final. Final China vs. Singapore—a repeat of the last Women’s Team Final in 2010 in Moscow. And, as last time, Singapore’s 2009 World Singles runnerup, 25-year-old Feng Tianwei, opens against China’s current World Champion, 21-year-old Ding Ning. But from the time the players enter this Westfalenhalle court—through a corridor formed by the balance-minded

Berlin Titans troupe who for days have been prancing in with cheerleader enthusiasm, periodically pyramiding up young women only to have them take a twisting backward fall into strong safe hands—all is not déjà vu. In the Halle itself there are few screen close-ups (as if any moveable tentacle with its camera eye is reluctant to move in too close to the court), and even when China, down 2-0 in the first game, goes up 6-3 there are no clanging Chinese cymbals of encouragement as in Moscow’s Olympiysky. At 6-all, one could hear an unexcitable CHIN-a! But as the score mounts—8-all, 9-all, 10-all, 11-all, 12-all to the beat of recorded music (“…Tricky like me…”), each is not so much trying to fool the other but is just swinging away aggressively. At 12-12, there’s a furious up-at-thetable exchange won by Ding who then, unlike what happened in 2010, takes the first game. In the second, through 4-all, 5-all, 6-all, 7-all, play is intensified by a more vibrant CHIN-a! CHIN-a! But forget those cheers, if she ever heard them—Feng flashes in a great counter to Ding’s open court that gives her the end-game lead and soon the game itself. Match all even. In the third, the players seem like two wind-up dolls as, countering, they and the balls bounce predictably up the middle. But when it comes to points, there’s no back and forth sharing as in the first two games— unbelievably, Ding is up 10-0. Then, after serving off deliberately (10-1), it’s…10-2, 10-3, 10-4 (CHIN-a!). Has it ever happened: a player regretting that give-away point—a point I myself always felt was not sporting but condescending. Well, no regrets this time. In the fourth, with China up 2-1 in games, the onslaught anticlimax continues until, after building up an 8-2 lead, Ding with an easy 11-3 finish calmly raises her arm. Now it’s Singapore’s Wang Yuegu against China’s Li Xiaoxia. The first three games couldn’t be closer—Li takes their opener 11-9 when Wang pushes her serve return into the net. Wang wins the second after missing a game-winning backhand, then is 11-10 ad-down, but steadies to 13-11 even the match. In the third, with Wang up 7-3 and lookin’ better than Li in their backhand exchanges, surprise, China wins five in a row, then, from 10-all, strikingly attacks to go up 2-1. The fourth game begins more or less evenly—China’s up 4-3. But then Li hurries ahead, 9-4, and can’t be caught. At the last Team’s, Singapore led 2-0. This time it’s much different—China’s ahead 2-0, and a woman enthusiast is two-handed holding up her China-flag banner. In the third match, it’s Singapore’s two-time winner of the Commonwealth Championships Li Jiawei against 2007 World Champion Guo Yue. China’s 3-1 lead in their opening game foretells the outcome. This, since 1997, is Li’s 13th World’s, and Guo at 23 is just too fast-attack for her. Guo ends the first with a serve and follow. In the second, though Li seems wired to play, Guo is clearly the stronger and noisier player…7-5, 8-5, 9-5, 10-5, then 11-6 out. There’s no give up in Li, though, and when Guo mishits horribly, Singapore’s ahead 4-0…CHIN-a! (that’s a rescue call?). Up 6-2, Li’s lookin’ good. But then, no, she isn’t—the gap’s too wide: 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, TIME!, 7-5, 8-5. Gotta be discouraging playing the Chinese. Compared to Guo as they go into the straight-game end, Li seems lethargic. But she fights until, all smiles, Guo throws up her racket in relief and abandon. So, from the victor’s point of view, no loss to Singapore. CHIN-a!—for the 18th time—is again supreme.

All Robo-Pongs now on sale!

Call us n For pricing, specials, more informat 40

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012 Newgy Industries,

Inc. • 805 Teal Drive Gallatin, TN 3706

Newgy Robo-Pong The Original Digital Table Tennis Robot Powerful, Precise, Programmable Robo-Pong 2050: Like a 2040 Supercharged! • Digital precision for ball speed, placement and frequency. • Selectable randomization controls create a more unpredictable robot. • Comes with 64 pre-programmed drills for various playing levels. Train strokes, footwork, transitions and other skills. • Optional advanced use: Included software to create, customize and exchange drills with friends by connecting to a PC. (PC not required for regular operation) • User-friendly digital control panel in 6 languages. • Recycling Net System to capture your returns and recycle the balls for non-stop action. Robo-Pong 1050: The digitally controlled robot that keeps you on budget! • Identical to the Robo-Pong 2050 in every way except it doesn’t have the Recycling Net System. • Position this robot anywhere on top of the table or mount in our optional Robo-Caddy to get a variety of angles and trajectories. Digital Upgrade Kit: Cost effective way to bring your analog robot into the digital age! • Convert your Robo-Pong 1000/1040 into a 1050 or your Robo-Pong 2000/2040 into a 2050. • Includes a 1050/2050 robot body, digital control box, power supply, shielded connector cable and 1050/2050 Owner’s Manual & DVD.

now: 1-800-55-NEWGY tion, or to order online visit us at www.newgy.com

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org 41 66 USA • Phone: 615-452-6470 • Fax: 615-230-9785 • email: newgy@newgy.com

COACHING

Early Cues One of the most common complaints I hear from players is: “I can’t return his serves.” This is rarely because they don’t know how to deal with a particular spin – from a certain level on, every table tennis player knows what to do with pretty much every type of spin – but because they didn’t recognize the spin and therefore didn’t choose their return technique correctly. It’s great, if you can drop shot an underspin serve a couple of inches from the net, but that technique is useless if you apply it to a topspin serve. The deceptiveness of serves in table tennis has been a source of many discussions. While it raises the difficulty level of the sport and constitutes one of the reasons why those transitioning from recreational play to the competitive sport meet such a high entry threshold, it is also the factor that keeps top players from blasting the first ball past the server, and thus it makes the sport viable in the first place. Difficulty in returning serves rests on two separate factors. In recent articles, I have addressed the techniques of returning different serves. But before we can choose the correct technique, we have to read the spin. This article will delve into that portion. Players, who serve well, generally receive well. This is because they have spent much time studying the issue. They know, for example, that moving the racket hand differently generates quite a difference not only in the spin but in trajectory and speed. So they know to look for that when receiving. And that’s the point: You must know what to look for. I have chosen three serve sequences by World Singles and Team Champion Zhang Jike. His serve game is very effective and has

By Wei Wang, USATT Hall of Famer and Certified National Coach been a significant contributor to his success. One of the reasons for that is that he belongs to a generation of players, who has enjoyed relative stability in the service rules and was not forced to drastically change movements that were grooved over thousands of hours of practice, unlke what happened to those before him. That stability has lead to a very nuanced development of serving techniques during his formative years as a player, and he was able to focus on that without the disruption of a rule change. The result is excellent timing and razor sharp precision. But even the World Champion’s serves are readable. I encourage you to look at the pictures, or even at the video posted on my YouTube Channel, and, if you had not been specifically drawn to the issue by the topic of this article, all three serves we show might look similar. His body moves with similar speed and in a similar rhythm, even though the toss height varies widely in each of the serves. But there are many, clearly detectable clues that only escape your attention if you don’t recognize them as “tells”. The better a server, the more consistent his serve motion. But that also means if you can detect clues, they are more reliable. It is unlikely that such a sharply grooved player delivers a particular serve with much variation in their movement. Firstly, let’s identify the three serves in these sequences: Sequence 1 shows a sideunderspin serve that will curve toward the server’s right. Sequence 2 is side-under spin in the opposite direction, and sequence 3 is a side-topspin serve that breaks to the left, AKA inside-out. The service motion starts well before the toss, and early clues are more informative than

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

late ones, because at the beginning, precision is imperative to ensure a clean movement, but at the end of the movement, when the ball is gone, the player can add all kinds of fake movements to distract and confuse the receiver. Hints can be drawn as early as when the server sets up in his serving position. For both underspin serves, Zhang sets up about 4 or 5 inches farther forward than for serve 3, with his left hip outside of the table in front of the end line, but for the topspin serve his whole body is behind the end line. In all cases his left hand presents the ball roughly in the same spot, which means that for the underspin serves, his body is slightly more rotated to the left. (1 in all sequences). Now look at the racket. Before the underspin serves, the racket face is close to vertical, while for topspin, it is more horizontal. There is also a distinct difference in where the racket hand is relative to the ball when he presents the ball. As you may have experienced yourself, when anticipating a particular motion, the racket hand “pre-feels”, almost rehearsing the movement that is to come. Both underspin serves have a medium-high toss. But if you look at 5 in sequence 1 and 2, not only the racket position is clearly different, but also the tossing arm. The difference is also clear in 6, where the racket angle indicates the intended serve. In contrast, sequence 3 shows

the elbow way up in the air (3), with the racket matching the fall of the ball (4-5). So by the time the racket makes contact, you might have a good idea of what’s coming - maybe not the first time, but after you’ve seen it, you should remember. Then, of course, there is the contact, the most important clue, but also the most obvious one.

Late indicators are ball trajectory, its bounce, and sometimes seeing the label on the ball. They should serve to confirm you assessment rather than being primary. One hint: Always touch the ball with the racket when the opponent has served a net ball, and watch its deflection. This will give you confirmation – or correction – of your

reading of the serve. You can, in essence, learn the serve without penalty. In all cases, don’t approach difficult serves with fear, but challenge yourself and be assertive. This way, you will learn them more quickly. As always, you’ll find the full clip on my Youtube Channel - WeiTTTube photo sequence by Diego Schaaf

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

COACHING COACHING

Tips of the Month

Tip of the Month: May

Against A Defender This month I tell attacking players how to handle modern defenders, while also equipping defenders to disrupt attackers. May the best tactician win! Here are your keys to beating a defender: 1. Stop the attack: Ironically enough, the only way a defender actually can win points against you (versus you making mistakes) is by attacking. The threat of attack can also disrupt your game, and create error-causing anxiety. So your first task against a modern defender is to find a way to stop his attack reliably. Often, this is done through the placement of your shots, avoiding offering up loose serves, and changing directions against a bat-flipper to force the ball to the spinless side when he does start looping. Make this a priority from the start. 2. Find a comfortable rallying approach: You need a way to keep the point going, but without any genuine risk. This can be a simple roll, a repeated steady loop, or just pushing to good locations. If you have a combination of shots you can execute very consistently (and without being attacked), there is no pressure on you to try for a low-percentage winner. This becomes your baseline game through while you can continue rallies for as long as needed. 3. Win points with sudden attacks: Many players seem to imagine themselves gradually building an attack over several consecutive shots, culminating in a big winner. That’s exactly the wrong approach, because the defender will easily get into position as the rally proceeds, and the spin will tend to build up on the ball. Instead, you want to win points when (a) you hit a sudden, strong shot and (b) the defender is not in a good position. For example, you might push short to one side, and then loop strongly to the other. Looping at wide angles is another way to put the ball out of comfortable reach. Opening with a fast, hard loop off a pushing rally can be useful. Look for those opportunities especially when the defender is close to the table. And, if the defender makes a strong return of your strong shot, you can just push it back and continue with your baseline game until the next chance develops. 4. When defenders are weakest: Defenders are often vulnerable in the serve and return game, and when they are attacking. In both cases, they are up at the table (or moving forward) and can have trouble setting up for a chop against your strong shot. Yet, many attackers never strongly attack a defender’s serve, or the first few balls in a rally. If a defender serves simply and deep, loop it hard just as you would against anyone else. Likewise, third and fourth ball attacks can be your easiest points to get. And don’t just block a defender’s loop if it is a bit weak -- go back after the ball with a strong reloop as you would against an attacker, and you may catch him with his balance completely wrong for a good defensive return. 5. Serve for position, not spin: Finally, long pips can allow a defender to neutralize heavy spin on your serves. Instead, conceal the location where you are aiming the serve, and keep moving the ball around. If you serve basically nothing balls, you will obtain reliable spin on the return to attack whenever the position is right. And the knowledge that you are ready to attack a loose return will create headaches for a defender who can’t judge quite where the serve is going. Defenders also tend to overuse their pips (usually with the backhand) in making returns. You can set up attacks by aiming some serves towards the forehand side where they reach over to cover, along with fast ones to the corners and little short serves just over the net.

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

by Carl Danner

Tip of the Month: June

Against An Attacker How can you handle all those modern attackers with their spinny rackets and loops? Here’s how: 1. Establish your attack early: Ideally, you should start off most matches by attacking strongly against any reasonable opportunity -- including deep serves and pushes. This will confuse many opponents who have been preparing themselves to face “the chopper,” and will tend to create pressure. Pressure is always good, because it encourages attackers to take too many chances and swing too hard. 2. Mix up the tempo: Most defenders have long pips on one side at least. Learn to use it to block right off the bounce, and push short as well as deep. Also, if your opponent pushes with underspin, pick hit with your long pips -- as the spin on the ball will continue and create topspin for your shot, helping to bring your hit down on the table. These pick hits don’t need to be all that hard to be effective, especially if they are quick or crowd your opponent’s body. Denying time to an attacker is always a good move. 3. Sometimes start the topspin: A careful opponent may just push repeatedly and then loop hard, a difficult combination for you. It can help to use simple long topspin serves to locations she can’t loop strongly, to get a softer topspin rally going instead of the push and kill. 4. Learn a consistent reloop: If you can reloop when your opponent loops weakly (or even strongly), then you will have a good weapon for varying the spin and pace of the points. In practicing this shot, also try to land it with varying degrees of sidespin (which can be confusing to receive). If you can develop footwork that permits reloops from a wide range of positions, you can have almost a second game to use against many opponents. Pay attention also for chances to mix in a heavy chop in the middle of a relooping rally, as the change in spin can earn a point just by itself. 5. Learn to sidespin chop both ways: When chopping, you can cut across the ball either to the right, or to the left. The resulting returns will curve in opposite directions. Practice both variations, and mix them up (especially when away from the table). 6. Play some combination bat spin games: Use a little creativity to build up spin on the ball with your inverted side, and then throw in the long pips. For example, your spinny inverted serve or push often will yield a spinny return you can take with the pips. The same holds true for many sidespin balls. Another fun move is to develop a big sidespin serve motion you can execute both with the sponge (spinny) and the pips (not). There’s something about that move that will get many attackers to miss -- by trying to return the dead ball as if it had the spin you faked. 7. Finally, watch out when the attacker gets a good swing at a spinny loop. The heavy spin will make the ball fly towards the floor quickly, and you will need to adjust your position forward when chopping. Even when using the pips for a return, get in the habit of estimating the amount of spin on loops to gauge the ball’s flight. Many defenders lose points by not paying attention to this, and end up getting caught too far back from the table (or too close in) to handle the shot well.

What is the Goal of the Receiver By Larry Hodges, TableTennisCoaching.com

Returning serve is the most difficult part of the game to master. There are more variations to prepare for than at just about any other time-- reading spin off a fast motion, topspin or backspin, sidespin either way, corkscrewspin, no-spin, long or short, fast or slow, to wide angles or the middle-- there are infinite possibilities. And yet, most players don’t practice their receive much, except in games, and there they are looking to win, not to try something new that might cost them a match. Instead, find someone with decent serves and practice returning them. (And do the same for him.) But you also need to know what to do with the serve. There are two possibilities. 1) Aggressive receive that takes the initiative. Here the receiver should play aggressive, take the initiative (or even go for a winner), and try to dominate the point. Examples include a short serve that pops up slightly, a serve that goes long that the receiver is ready for (and should usually loop), and serves where the receiver reads the serve well early on and is comfortable attacking. A player should always be looking for such serves and be ready to pounce on them. The goal isn’t to win the point on one shot; the goal is to take the initiative and put the receiver in an uncomfortable position. Key to this is placing the shot, either to a wide angle or to the opponent’s middle (opponent’s transition point between forehand and backhand, usually the elbow). When flipping very aggressively, you might consider mostly flipping crosscourt at a wide angle, as this gives you more table to aim for. The down side to an aggressive receive is that you will also lose some points from missing. It’s a tradeoff. Some players are afraid to attack serves, and return almost all serves passively. This makes things easy

THE JUNK YARD

for the server, since he can serve knowing that he’s going to get a ball he can attack. You need at least the threat of an attack to make a controlled receive more effective. 2) Controlled receive that neutralizes the serve. The goal is to force the opponent into a mistake or a weak attack, or to catch them so off guard they can’t attack at all. These receives are the most misunderstood. Against a short serve, don’t just push the serve back mindlessly-- do something with the return to put pressure on the server. Push quick off the bounce, deep, at a wide angle, low, and with good backspin. Change directions at the last second. Drop it short. Push with sidespin. Push with no-spin, but with a vigorous wrist motion just after contact to fake backspin. Do a steady, well-placed flip. (You should flip most short serves that don’t have backspin.) Constantly vary your receive so your opponent never knows what you’re going to do next. Against a long serve, mostly loop, but go for consistency, spin, placement, and depth. Some players feel they have to attack every serve because they don’t have confidence they can handle the opponent’s first attack if they use a controlled receive, even if the attack isn’t very strong. The problem here isn’t the receive--it’s the defense. If you can’t block an opponent’s loop (or consistently handle it in some other way that fits your game), then you need to work on your defense. Which of the two receives should you use? You should generally favor controlled receives until you have mastered that, and are comfortable against the opponent’s attack off that receive. When you can do that, you’ll have enough control to be more aggressive off the serve, and then you should do either, depending on your opponent and your playing style.

by Rich Burnside

Just Keep It On the Table ? Recently I took a few months off table tennis, I came back to a buzzsaw! When you are away from the sport or out of practice the terrible philosophy of “just keeping it in play” may haunt you. The long pips and junkyard players especially suffer from this condition even when in full practice mode. A very good friend, and USATT Hall of Famer, David Sakai, reminded me of that last week in Baltimore. He encouraged me with his table tennis wisdom. He asked me, “Where is your confidence?” Lack of confidence in table tennis and just “trying not to miss” can put you in a dangerous place. Sure against someone who keeps missing the shot, by all means, keep it on the table for them to miss. However, against the players who are better and more consistent, you must create some of the action. My shot is usually a fast angled block and Sakai knew that, but instead I was just trying to get the ball back on the table. You will see someone who is starting to lose confidence in their game start pushing against a chopper. The junk rubber can be used for not just pushing; you must experiment with attacking somehow with the junk. Table tennis is a very mental sport, you must know your strategic role in every game. Don’t let rustiness or lack of faith in your game cause more frustration by allowing you to take a passive approach. You must keep going for your shot. Always remember table tennis is a mental game as well as physical. Do not be your worst enemy by just settling for that ball to be in play. Even the best defensive players in the world need to force some action. When playing club matches ask yourself before each game, “What tactics will I use against this opponent, this game?” If a certain shot lacks execution, seek out a club coach and ask them to watch you for a few minutes. Lastly, talk to your friends at the club if your game is struggling; most would love to help a fellow ponger and friend.

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

maryland table tennis center 18761- Q North Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (301) 519-8580 WWW.MDTC.COM

2012 training camps

Spring Break Camp: April 2–6 Summer Camps: June 18–22, 25–29 July 2–6, 9–13, 16–20, 23–27, July 30–Aug 3, Aug 6–10, 13–17, 20–24 Christmas Camp * Dec 26 –31 • N ormal hrs: 10am–6 pm (1pm–3pm lunch break) Christmas Camp special hrs: 12/26: 3–6 pm 12/27–12/30: 10am–1pm, 3–6 pm 12/31: 10 am–1 pm • O PTION 1: Full day table tennis training • OPTION 2: Half Day table tennis training & Half Day English, Math & Chinese classes

Coach Cheng Yinghua • • • • • • • • •

• •

All completely renovated & expanded, now double the size with exercise equipment, showers etc. All new red pro flooring in playing areas Butterfly is the official ball of MDTTC

Fees •

$250/single week camp, members $285/single camp week, non-members • MULTI-WEEK DISCOUNTS: $225 per week for 4+ camps, members $250 per week for 4+ camps, non-members • Minimum deposit: $50 • Make Checks out to MDTTC • Sign up early! Only ﬁrst 30 players are guaranteed spots in each camp • $6 choice of Chinese lunch delivered daily

Housing •

Holiday Inn, (301) 948-8900, 1 mile away Mention Table Tennis for best rate

CHENG YINGHUA AT THE 2 0 0 8 U . S . T E A M T R I A LS

Coach Jack Huang • • • • • • •

All Ages & Levels Welcome! •

Member, USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame U.S. #1 Ranked Player for ten years 4-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion 2000 Olympic Team Member USATT’s Coach of the Year, 1996 Chinese National Team Member 1977–87 Former Head Coach for the Szechuan Province of China Butterﬂy sponsored full-time coach USATT certiﬁed National Coach

U.S. #1 Player in 1990 Chinese National Team Member 1976–83 Former U.S. Senior and National Men’s Doubles Champion USATT’s Developmental Coach of the Year, 1997 Former Head Coach for the Guangxi Province of China Butterﬂy sponsored full-time coach USATT certiﬁed National Coach

JACK HUANG AT THE 1998 U.S. OPEN

Coach Larry Hodges • Member, USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame • Author of Table Tennis: Steps to Success and Table Tennis Tales & Techniques • Director/Manager/Coach at the Resident Training Program for Table Tennis at the Olympic Training Center, 1985-89 • Many-time U.S. Junior Team Coach • USATT’s Developmental Coach of the Year, 2002 • Editor of USATT Magazine for 12 years • USATT certiﬁed National Coach

LA R R Y H O D G E S A T T H E 2 0 0 0 N A T I O N A LS

Coach Jeffrey Zeng Xun • • • •

2011 Eastern Open and Cary Cup Champion Men’s Singles Semiﬁnalist and Junior Singles & Doubles Champion, Sichuan Province of China Men’s Singles Quarterﬁnalist, Chinese Junior Championships Past coach or trainer for the Chinese Sichuan Team, the Kaohsiung County Team in Taiwan, the Mikihouse Team in Japan, the United Arab Emirates National Team, and the Greater Vancouver Table Tennis Association

JEFFREY XENG XUN COACHING AT MDTTC

—————————— —————————————————————————————————— SEND CHECK MADE TO MDTTC, 18761- Q NORTH FREDERICK AV E , GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879

Name:

Phone:

Age:

Address:

DETACH AND MAIL

USATT Rating:

Email:

Student entering grade level:

Please circle:

Option 1

Amount Enclosed: $

Camps attending:

Option 2

Design: Julian Waters

www.waterslettering.com

FEATURED CLUB

The Renovated and Expanded

Maryland Table Tennis Center By Larry Hodges The Maryland Table Tennis Center in Gaithersburg opened in 1992 as possibly the first full-time table tennis training center in the United States. There were a few other full-time clubs, but most were centered around leagues or open play; we were trying to create a full-time club centered around training. Over and over we were told that there weren’t enough players to support such a facility. Many missed the point of opening such a center - it wasn’t just for current players, the whole point was to recruit new players. And the players came, with MDTTC now in its twentieth year. The club has a long history of success, especially in junior events. During the 1990s and much of the 2000s, the club often won over half of the gold medals and total medals at the Junior Olympics and Junior Nationals. Until recently there often wasn’t much competition. But over the past five or so years, full-time clubs with their own professional coaches have been popping up all over the country, and MDTTC was no longer the 800 lb gorilla in the room - just one of a bunch. It was time for a change. This led to the “Great Renovation and Expansion of 2012.” In April MDTTC took over the space next door, and doubled in size to 10,000 square feet - room for 16-20 courts, depending on how we space them, including six huge courts in the front. The entire club now has the (expensive) red flooring made for table tennis. The small and sometimes messy-looking bathroom in the middle is gone, replaced by two much larger and nicer ones on the side, one with a shower. We have wireless internet access, a much larger office and pro shop, and even a classroom built into the back. (We plan to combine table tennis with summer school classes.)

On Saturday, April 7, we had our Open House to showcase the renovations. Over 200 attended. There was a beginning junior class; demonstrations; exhibitions; a service seminar; a 3-point tournament; raffles; free table tennis shoes; and lots of open play. When the club opened in 1992 there were three coaches: former Chinese National Team Members Cheng Yinghua and Jack Huang, and Larry Hodges (this writer). Twenty years later, all three are still there! Joining MDTTC one year ago as their fourth full-time coach was Jeffrey Zeng Xun, a former member of the Sechuan Province Team in China, and the 2011 Eastern Open and Cary Cup Champion. Part-time coaches include Peter Li (2011 U.S. Men’s Singles Finalist), Han Xiao (2011 U.S. Men’s Singles Finalist and Men’s Doubles Champion for the third time) and Raghu Nadmichettu (2404 rated and a quarterfinalist in Men’s Singles at the 2009 USA Nationals). Nearly 200 hours of coaching take place each week. You may have noted that the two Men’s Singles finalists at last

year’s USA Nationals--Han and Peter--coach part-time at the club. Both started out and spent most of their junior careers training at MDTTC, and both come in periodically to help train our top juniors. And there are many top juniors! Leading the list are Maryland’s top two junior stars, Nathan Hsu (15, rated 2356) and Tong Tong Gong (14, rated 2334). Nathan was the 2011 U.S. Junior Olympics Under 16 Boys’ Singles Champion, while Tong Tong is a member of the USA National Cadet Team (top four under 15). There’s also Crystal Wang, 10, rated 2082, a member of both the USA National Cadet and Mini-Cadet Girls’ Teams, who achieved a rating of 2150 last year at age 9, the highest rating in U.S. history for anyone under age 10, boys or girls. And there’s Derek Nie, 11, rated 2090, a finalist in 10 and Under at the 2011 USA Nationals and a member of the USA Mini-Cadet Boy’s Team. (We’re pretty certain that Derek, at 65 pounds, is the highest rated player in the U.S., pound for pound, at about 32 rating points per pound.) There are a host of others, not just from Maryland, but also from neighboring Virginia and Washington D.C., with apologies to those not listed. And let’s not forget the seniors, which include U.S. Over 50 Women’s Champion Charlene Liu (who runs the MDTTC Tuesday and Friday night leagues), U.S. Over 80 Champion Mort Greenberg, and Coach Cheng Yinghua, the top-ranked Over 50 player in the U.S. MDTTC recently completed its Spring Break Camp, the 150th training camp they’ve held in their twenty years. The camp had a record 60+ players - made possible by the larger facility - including a number of out-of-towners. This summer they have eleven consecutive weeks of camps scheduled, with top juniors from China attending as practice partners. It’s going to be a pongpastic summer. MDTTC would like to thank its sponsors for all their help: Butterfly, Go Table Tennis, and James Wu, Llewellyn Realtor. For info on MDTTC coaching, junior programs, classes, training camps, four different leagues, tournaments, and other programs, see their web page at www.mdttc.com.

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

The World Championships - From a Photographer’s View By Diego Schaaf The World Table Tennis Championships are a spectacle unlike any other. The atmosphere is electric from the presence of top players from countries throughout the globe - each a star where they’re from, each not used to losing, and – even though this week they are competing for the team championship – each primarily a fierce competitor in an individual sport with an ego to match. Early in the tournament, one can easily distinguish the newcomers from the veterans. While the first-timer from a second or third division team enters somewhat cautiously, taking in the impressive, well-decorated hall, the Chinese team walks in like they own the place. And no one really dares say otherwise. Everyone knows that, in fact, they do. One might think that a photographer’s ring-side seat is a perfect way to enjoy the sport. And of course there is much truth to that, but often it’s easier to follow the matches in their entirety as a spectator in the stands than through the lens at court side, where much of it can go by while we focus on getting the shot we’re after, seeing only one player at a time. What we do get to witness, however, are little gems that only reveal themselves in extremely close proximity. Over the 20 years or so, during which I have followed these competitions, I have been privy to innumerable such little details – some more significant than others – but, after enjoying them and perhaps recounting them to my friends, I have let them pass to memory. This time, I decided to hold on to a few of them and dig some up from the past. Not all have the weight of the match-deciding, yet practically invisible edge ball at the 2005 World Championships in Shanghai, the slightest “tick” of which was audible only to us photographers right next to the table - and Timo Boll, who without hesitation pointed to the edge of the table, even though it had been match point, 12-11 in the seventh game, and the umpire had already raised his arm giving him the point and with it the match. Boll went on to lose the match but was awarded the sportsmanship award for that tournament. Some events are more mundane. The big, loud Spanish player, for example, who, after easily winning the first game against his Portuguese opponent, finds himself in deep trouble and finally, while walking past the Portuguese bench picking up a ball, comments on his own performance in a tirade of salty language. Aware of his closest audience, he does so not in Spanish, but in Portuguese. The beginning of a match at court side feels much like I imagine the moments before the encounter of two gladiators must have felt in ancient Rome. Athletic, strong young guys step onto the court, pacing like lions locked into a confined space with their rival. While luckily it seems rare that there are personal feelings, by the time they are ready to start their matches, they have peeled back the layers of insulation that keep society working and have exposed the bare wire that allows them access to their primal instincts. From right next to them, that tension is palpable. When women take to the court, the feeling is somewhat different. It reminds me more of a couple of race horses chomping at the bit to be let loose. Nervously they stand next to the coach, all but ignoring his last instructions, looking across the court to their competition, then they sometimes start hopping - as much to loosen their muscles as to dissipate excess energy. Nobody can go from zero to one hundred in no time flat, and they are clearly ramping up. By the time they start the match, they’re already at full speed.

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Before the match starts, many competitors have little routines that they perform religiously: World Champion Zhang Jike is very meticulous in his preparation. He walks around the back court and arranges all the barriers so they are lined up correctly, neatly ties his shoes making sure the laces on both sides of the knot are evenly long, and after warm-up, after time has been called, he keeps everyone waiting while he pulls up his shirt, reaches for his short’s strings, ties them neatly, pulls down the shirt, arranges it, and only then is he ready to kill.

Looking at him closely, I noticed that sometime in the recent past an event that must have been extremely painful left the nail on his right ring finger blackened – an occurrence that must surely had interrupted his preparations for this tournament. It doesn’t seem to have slowed him down. When the match has started, all that energy gets focussed onto the ball. To some players it becomes the enemy, to be pounded as hard as possible. They will run every ball down, crashing through the barriers, if need be, launching their bodies in its direction, the first goal always being contact with the ball, and only after that do they develop a strategy on how to avoid landing face first. To others, the ball seems to be an object of affection, a partner that allows them to mess with their opponent, gently taking the game out of their hand, softly aiding their temper to come to a boil and perhaps causing them to explode, or to implode – either will do. Top players all have certain physical routines – whether they’re preparing to serve or to receive. Zhang Jike softly bounces the ball on the rubber with his right hand, five or ten times – the number increasing with the tenseness of the situation. Zoran Primorac gets into receiving position and then reaches out with his left hand and gently rests the tips of his fingers on the table’s edge. Aware that it would be a lost point if they’re still there when the opponent tosses the ball, he glides them off just in time. Germany’s Dmitrij Ovtcharov has a very deliberate routine folding his towel very neatly. It seems that, if he succeeds in getting the folds to be just in their right place, then his game will also be in order, and so one is drawn

in, rooting for a perfect fold so perhaps the next point will be another beauty. The contrast between what we imagine some players’ off-court personality to be and what they display on-court is intriguing. When she gets ready to serve, Japan’s Hirano Sayaka, usually chatty and full of smiles, has one of the most intimidating stare-downs that can last five of six seconds – an eternity under those conditions.

The U.S.’s Ariel Hsing, a mild mannered, pleasant young girl, can scare the … shall we say “wind” - out of her opponents with her yell after winning a good point, and then go right back to the business-like, almost stoic demeanor that makes her the dangerous competitor she is. All the physical energy present on the court is amplified by the emotional component. A Russian player quietly lets the ball roll deep into the back court after losing a point, but as he walks by, I hear him mutter something to himself - something I’m glad I don’t understand – , and it feels like a volcano is charging for an eruption. It gives a clearer context to the violent scream of satisfaction upon winning the next hard-fought point, audible to even those in the next hall. Later, when he smashes the racket into the floor so hard that it bounces all the way to the net, it is not obvious to everyone that he mashed in the edge enough to make the racket’s further use questionable. Quickly, somewhat surreptitiously, he presses the damaged area together and takes the yellow card with a nod, hoping that the umpires won’t look at his racket. They don’t. Some subtleties are quite amusing. The United States’ Lily Zhang, apparently completely unintimidated by her opponent, played a wonderful point against China’s Guo Yue and left her parked on the wrong side of the court with a perfect down-the-line forehand. Guo stood still for just a fraction of a second, and then turned to her bench with a look that could not more clearly have said: ”How dare she!!??” - completely forgetting that at Lily’s age, she, too, approached her opponents with the same irreverence, an attitude that ultimately helped propel her to the very top ranks. Lily showed equal lack of intimidation when she defeated world #37 Daniela Dodean of Romania. She ended the match with a little unassuming fist pump, shook hands seemingly without particular emotion, but when she sat down, she had a quiet smile on her face, showing her deep satisfaction. During a high-power match, the violence of it all becomes quite apparent. Sitting a few feet from them, seeing the distances close-up, it is sometimes still hard to fathom how they got from here to there in such little time, or how they reacted in time to play a ball that, when first played, quite obviously seemed unreachable – even though I saw it happen right in front of me. It is always impressive to hear the knock of the ball against the foam barriers. Long after it was struck, after it has flown across the table, hit the ground and

rolled for ten feet it still sounds like someone smashed it from immediate distance. Such is the power some of these athletes develop. When they walk by to pick up the ball, they create a gust of wind that seems more than a human body should generate. The theater changes pace when the players go to their coaches in between games or during time-outs. There are lectures, discussions, arguments occasionally the coach can’t get a word in, other times he can’t shut up. Some players pace back and forth, their body language indicating they want to get back to the table, others look more like a battered boxer who is hoping for someone to throw in the towel. One player – after having endured the coach’s sermon – relentlessly delivered in a hushed but urgent tone - finally bursts out: “I can’t be more aggressive. My arm feels like a piece of wood.” Everyone gets nervous under these pressure cooker conditions. I once saw The Master himself, J.O. Waldner, standing just so that the bright lights were reflecting off his racket, showing that his hand was trembling severely. It was a final against Ma Lin – and it was the scene of an another of the many acts of honesty that grace our sport. The umpire thought she saw an edge ball, which would have ended the match in Waldner’s favor. But, aware that the ball had missed, he declined the point and immediately got ready to continue playing - and went on to lose. Honesty, it would seem, doesn’t pay – at least not in undeserved wins. It does, however, in the long run, cement the undying respect their fellow competitors have for these greats. The people tasked to keep these wild tempers and powerful egos in check do so with varying techniques and varying levels of success. The best umpires seem to be quite well-equipped to handle it, leaving the players alone as much as possible. As long as the sport is not affected and rules are not broken, that seems to be the wise course. Wanting to be judges rather than participants, they issue a warning when necessary, but they rarely need to resort to more. Some others unfortunately lock horns with the players, and that almost never benefits the match. In either case, it is not a job I envy them. This reminds me of one of my pet peeves: It is the whole handshake issue. It is meaningless to shake someone’s hand if you don’t look them in the eyes while doing it. A few players make a point of looking at the umpires, and it seems like they’re actually thanking them for their service.

Others are already on their way to the other side by the time their hand makes contact with the opponent’s or the umpire’s. I think that’s worse than no handshake. At that point, you’re just wiping your sweaty hand on someone else’s. Sitting in immediate proximity lets the photographer in on some strangeness, too. For example Tamara Boros of Croatia getting her racket rejected by an umpire for having too thick rubber – after having used it the previous four days. For photographers, it is almost impossible to stay out of the TV pictures, because we are assigned to specific areas. Over the years, it appears, some of my friends have taken to playing a variation the game “Where is Waldo”, which they call “Where is Diego”. I get e-mails from friends all over the world saying that they saw me on TV, and even though my profession and distinct preference is to be behind the camera, I guess it’s something I can live with. The experience is definitely an interesting one. Perhaps not so much to watch the development of matches – that is better done from a little farther back – but to get some insights on nuances that are lost at a distance. They remind me that even the stars are regular people, with superstitions and habits and tempers and egos and a stubborn drive to win, pretty much like most of us. They’re just a hell of a lot better at table tennis... photos by Diego Schaaf

TOURNAMENTS

USA Tournament Results New York State Open Junior Championships

Locust Valley, Long Island, NY On April 21, for the ninth consecutive year, the Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club hosted the New York State Open Junior Championship. In this year’s tournament there were championships in under 9, under 11, under 13, under 14, under 18, junior doubles, open doubles and open singles. The highest rated junior was 16-year old Can Kevin Wang with a rating of 2536, from Manhattan, the number 4 ranked junior in the USA. The highest ranked in the open was his friend who just turned 18, Max Quinmin Wang, with a rating of 2529. As expected they won their respective divisions, but were very good sports when they played much lower ranked players. They play out of Wang Chen’s club in Manhattan. The winner of this year’s under 9 and under 11 championships was newcomer Charlie Jacobs, who just turned 8. He was from the host club. Charlie really only started playing at the club this year, working with Coach Jerry Mintz. Gabriel Tacuri, from the Bohemia Table Tennis Club beat Jason Lopez from the host club in the final of the under 13 event. The under 14 event was dominated by Alexander and Christopher Xue, twin brothers who play out of the Chinese Community Center of Flushing. They came into the tournament with rare, identical ratings of 1484! They faced each other in the final with Alex winning 11/9 in the fifth game! In the Under 18, Angelo Stanco, 15, the best player at the Grenville Baker host club, won his table. But at 1515 rating he was no match against 2536 Kevin Wang in the final, although Angelo somehow got the first game, 12-10. Kevin did not want to play against his brother, Max, in the open event. Stanco went to the final in that event also, losing to Max. The junior doubles was hotly contested. Six Max has just turned 18, Kevin teamed up with 10 year old Rubin Ronquillo of the local club. They had the highest and lowest ratings, respectively, in the tournament. They beat Gabrial and his friend John Broderick from the Bohemia club, but they could not overcome Stanco and Marcelo Rosario Metzgar, also 15, from the host club. They went on to defeat the Xue brothers 11-5 in the fifth game. In the final Open doubles, coach and tournament director Jerry Mintz finally got to play, with his student Angelo Stanco. But they lost in the final to the Wang brothers, 117. 11-8, 11-8. Mintz thanked his student committee and other youth volunteers for helping to organize the tournament. He also thanked the Boys and Girls Club staff who helped set up the gym beautifully, and especially youth director Anita Waterson who has strongly supported this program.

Charlie Jacobs, GBBGC Gym, Coach Jerry Mintz hands Junior Championship trophy to Kevin Wang

3rd AMDT San Francisco Open March 10-11, 2012 U500: 1st Chen, Evan; 2nd Tu, Edmond U800: 1st Mugren, Ibrahim; 2nd Ma, Jamie Juniors U10: 1st Bai, William; 2nd Fong, Shawn; 3rd Zhao, William U1100: 1st Bai, William; 2nd Ramaswami, Shreyas Juniors U13: 1st Liu, Victor; 2nd Fong, Scott Chan, Long-Hin; 3rd Spitz, Noah U1400: 1st Chan, Frank; 2nd Frye, Scott U1700: 1st Liu, George; 2nd Fong, Scott Juniors U18: 1st Lee, Carey; 2nd Zhou, Ningjian (Rico) U1900: 1st Alfred, Stephen; 2nd Wong, Jordan U2100: 1st Li, Wei Ying; 2nd Kaiser, Todd U2300: 1st Lin, Bryant; 2nd Liu, Victor U2500: 1st Tu, Truong Manh; 2nd Lin, Bryant Esquires O55: 1st Chen, Peter; 2nd Garratt, Nicholas Veterans O70: 1st Chen, Peter; 2nd Li, Tom H.; 3rd Qian, Jianshen; 4th Wang, Yuan Xi U2800 Doubles: 1st Chan, Wesley, & Ma, Jamie; 2nd Butler, Rich, & Ho, Laura Open: 1st Xia, Jiwei; 2nd Zheng, Jiaqi; 3rd Tu, Truong Manh; 4th Reed, Barney James

2012 Missouri Winter Games Open Open Round Robin; 1st Venkat Ramesh, Team Lindenwood; 2nd Fernando Yamazato, Team Lindenwood; 3rd Karin Fukushima, Team Lindenwood; 4th Yuvraaj Dookram, Team Lindenwood Open Singles; 1st Fernando Yamazato, Team Lindenwood; 2nd Venkat Ramesh, Team Lindenwood 3rd Yu Yang, Clinton, Mississippi; 4th Winfred Addy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Under 2200; 1st Yuvraaj Dookram, Team

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Lindenwood;2nd Richard Martin, Kansas City, Missouri Under 2000; 1st Brad Kendle, Team Lindenwood; 2nd Andrew Louvier, St. Louis, Missouri; 3rd Ryan Driskill, Team Lindenwood Under 1800; 1st Chris Agimudie, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; 2nd Emily Zhao, St. Louis, Missouri; 3rd Stephen Ackart, Coweta, Oklahoma; 4th Vladimir Obrosov, Overland Park, Kansas Under 1600; 1st Basil Doan, El Dorado Springs, Missouri; 2nd Chris Bouie, Martin, Tennessee; 3rd Paul Liu, Springfield, Missouri Under 1400; 1st John Moore, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; 2nd Wenyan Drake, Springfield, Missouri; 3rd Don Tiger, Tulsa, Oklahoma; 4th Johnny McClanahan, Tulsa, Oklahoma Under 1200; 1st Don Tiger, Tulsa, Oklahoma; 2nd Ely Marin, Team Lindenwood; 3rd Eja Batbold, Team Lindenwood Open Doubles; 1st Venkat Ramesh / Fernando Yamazato, Team Lindenwood; 2nd Fred Cantarelli / Yuvraaj Dookram, Team Lindenwood; 3rd Zhicheng Liang / Yu Yang, Clinton, Mississippi Hardbat Open; 1st Venkat Ramesh, Team Lindenwood; 2nd Jeff Johnston, Smithville, Missouri; 3rd Ben Lewis, Springfield, Missouri; 4th Alfredo Baez, St. Louis, Missouri

Top Spin Winter Open Littleton CO March 17, 2012 Elite Division : 1st Austin Preiss; 2nd Basil Ibegbu A Division : 1st Ryan Khang; 2nd Nobuyuki Shiogai, $50 B Division: 1st Tim Eiles; 2nd : Michael Jaynes C Division: 1st Dennis Driggs; 2nd Kali Goring D Division: 1st Carlos Pinzon; 2nd Dennis Martin NJTTC April 2012 Open Westfield, NJ Open Singles: Final Peng Yin def. Allen Wang 4-2 (9,5,-6,-3,5,7): SF Peng Yin def. Brad Belle 4-0 (8,9,8,7); SF Allen Wang def. David Fernandez 4-1 (9,4,-11,5,8) Under 2300: 1st Richard DeWitt def. Allen Wang Under 2150: 1st Lim Ming Chui def. Dmitry Tokmakov Under 1950: 1st Scott Kandell def. Donald Feltenberger Under 1750: 1st Ricardo Brito def. Miller Montealegre Under 1600: 1st Justin Rosales def. Matthew Camarda Under 1400: 1st Alexander Sammy def. Adam Ellenberg Under 1200: 1st Rex E. Joy Jr. def Dave Tryon Under 1000: 1st Steve Saxon def. Yury Babadzhanov 3100 Doubles: 1st Oscar Camacho/Jagadish Gangavalli def. Santosh Cheeran/Michael Trofimov Sacramento Spring Open Open: Barney Reed; 2nd Aarsh Shah, 6,-6,6,5 U-2300: James Therriault; 2nd Aarsh Shah, U-2150: Olaf Surmann; 2nd Jian Zhuang U-2000: Satish Krishnamoorthy; 2nd Serge Stasick U-1850: Kevin Li; 2nd Tyler Spesick U-1700: Matt Barnes; 2nd Serge Stasick U-1550: Cole Cloud; 2nd Ryan Chen U-1400: Ryan Chen; 2nd Jon Rego U-1250: Noah Spitz; 2nd Sean Ziyalan U-1100: Ivy Li; 2nd Chris Ziyalan U-950: Dhruv Sampat; 2nd Ibrahim Mugren U-800: Evan Chen; 2nd Taruna Neelakanton U-650: Evan Chen; 2nd Sanam Nagvekar U-500: Sanam Nagvekar; 2nd Rishi Gopalan U-350: Pruthi Innamuri; 2nd Sruti Raman U-200: Chester Lau; 2nd Tina Chen Hardbat: Mike Lee; 2nd Thanh Nguyen 4400 Dbls: Bryant Lin/Carey Lee; 2nd James Therriault/Jordan Yee 3500 Dbls: Patrice Tournier/Matthew Blom; 2nd Matt Barnes/Ben Bednarz 3000 Dbls: Allan Ding/Charlie Huang; 2nd Mike Yamate/Yoshi Matsumoto

2012 Lindenwood April Open March 31 - April 1 Saint Charles, MO OPEN: 1st Venkat Ramesh, 2nd Fernando Yamazato U2350: 1st Zhiqiao Xie, 2nd Ming Curran U2150: 1st Zhicheng Liang, 2nd Leidy Handoko U1900: 1st Thaddeus Robinson, 2nd Fady Elmallah U1750: 1st Zijun Yang, 2nd Fady Elmallah U1500: 1st Vlodymyr Lahovskyy, 2nd Dave Harte U1250: 1st Adam Gray, 2nd Amy Cui U1000: 1st Ely Marin, 2nd Drew Collins Novice: 1st Roman Sivkov, 2nd Demir Devecigil Giant A: 1st Jose Barbosa, 2nd Venkat Ramesh Giant B: 1st Fred Cantarelli, 2nd Kris Frank Giant C: 1st Everton Wilson II, 2nd Alexander Mehrabian Giant D: 1st Jon Augspurger, 2nd William Mobley Giant E: 1st Fady Elmallah, 2nd Sonjay Henry Giant F: 1st Jim Johnson, 2nd John Falco Giant G: 1st Tom Kisler, 2nd Adam Gray Giant H: 1st Ely Marin, 2nd Brian Sheldon Giant I: 1st Isaac King, 2nd Joe Bean Pensacola 11th Annual Winter Open February 18th, 2012 Open Division: 1st Yu Yang (2339) Jackson, Ms. MC ttc;2nd Zhiqiao (Joe) Xie (2352) Jackson, Ms. MC ttc; 3rd Yuliang (Bill) Cai (2366) Jackson, Ms. MC ttc; 4th Zhicheng (Johnson) Liang (2086) Jackson, Ms. MC ttc Division A: 1st Huan (Ken) Qiu (1843) Jackson, Ms. MC ttc: 2nd Kil Yim (1683) Daphne, Al Pensacola ttc Division B: 1ar Johnny Billy (1738) Mobile, Al 2nd Tommie Dailey (1837) Birmingham, Al. Magic City ttc Division C: 1st Luke Brown (1387) Auburn, Al RRATT ttc: 2nd Gilbert Baguinon (1657) Mary Esther, Fl Ft. Walton Beach ttc Division D: 1st Joshua Lilly (1713) Metairie, La NOLA ttc: 2nd Zachary Johnston (1249) Valdosta, Ga VSU ttc Division E: 1st Tim Tittel (895) Pensacola, Fl. PHS ttc: 2nd Stewart Myers (1000 e) Tallahassee, Fl FSU ttc Bottoms Up Award: Christian Mard (1100e) Tallahassee, Fl. FSU ttc

The 78th Annual Michigan Closed March 17-18, 2012 - Saginaw, Michigan Open Singles: Mike Veillette d. Dennis Cobb (4-0) Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Singles: Tamaki Murakami d. Wenwen Zhang (3-1) Under 2200: Allen Lin d. Paul Wandrei (3-2) Under 2100 Tamaki Murakami d. Haitham Salman (3-0) Under 2000: Ali Abdelrazzaq d. Val Moreno (3-1) Under 1900: Danny Dulkin d. Dean Yeotis (3-0) Under 1800: Rong Li d. Robert Priestley (3-0) Under 1700: Xiaotian Lu d. Wai Hong Wan (3-2) Under 1600: Sachin Bidkar d. Harold Moy (3-2) Under 1500: Xiaotian Lu d. Bob Cummings (3-1) Under 1400: Xiaotian Lu d. Yuntao Ma (3-2) Under 1300: Xinye Ji d. Charles Lake (3-2) Under 1200: Tyrone Schiff d. Michael Dean (3-0) Under 1100: Xinye Ji d. Michael Dean (3-0) Under 1000: Tyrone Schiff d. Xinye Ji (3-1) Juniors 18 and Under: Misae Suzuki d. Dennis Cobb Jr. (3-0) Juniors 15 and Under: Daniel Ribbink d. Kevin Hao (3-0) Juniors 12 and Under: Kevin Hao d. Aidan Donohue (3-0) 70 and Over: Billy G. Patterson d. Jerry Naugle (3-1) 55 and Over: James Dixon Jr. d. Huibin Yang and Mark Merritt ( 3 way tie ) 40 and Over: Mike Veillette d. Dennis Cobb (3-1) Open Doubles: Johannes Boehme / Paul Wandrei d. Mike Veillette / Mike Baber (3-0) Mixed Doubles: Paul Wandrei / Misae Suzuki d. Allen Lin & Tamaki Murakami (3-1) Under 3800 Doubles Mike Veillette / Steve Veillette d. Allen Lin / Wenwen Zhang (3-2) Under 2600 Doubles Allen Lin / Xinye Ji d. Robert Schichtel / Bill Lazear (3-1) 18 & Under Doubles Misae Suzuki / Dennis Cobb Jr. d. Daniel Ribbink / Alex Uganski (3-1)

2012 MILLCREEK GIANT ROUND ROBIN APRIL 14-15, 2012 Division 1 Upper: 1. Asaf Azarsky 4-1, 2. Samson Dubina 4-1, 3. Chip Coulter 4-1, 4. Randy Seemiller 2-3, 5. Dun Han Li 1-4, 6. Don Hamilton 0-5 Lower: 1. Tak Cheong Ip 5-0, 2. Seth Pech 3-2, 3. Alex Penkhasov 3-2, 4. Seyed Hamrahian 3-2, 5. Desmond Preston 1-4, 6. Sam Gacki 0-5 Division 2 Upper: 1. Shri Lolla 5-0, 2. Alex Bu 3-2, 3. Marc Maronian 3-2, 4. Keiran Pinili 2-3, 5. Alex Bateman 1-4, 6. Harry Hawk 1-4 Lower: 1. Ken Roskos 5-0, 2. Wayne Carney 4-1, 3. Saide Tang 2-3, 4. Cliff Sullivan 2-3, 5. Roy Dietz 2-3, 6. Dong Jiang 0-5

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Photo: Zhou Xin by Pradipta Dutta

March Madness in Bay Area

By Bruce H. Liu There were three consecutive USATT sanctioned tournaments in Northern California in March alone – the Sacramento Winter Open (March 3), the AMDT San Francisco Open (March 10), and the ICC California State Open (March 16-18). In addition, quite a few local players went to the 4-star Northridge Open (March 4) in Los Angeles and the Cary Cup in North Carolina the same weekend of ICC’s tournament. Are there enough table tennis players in the Bay Area to support all these tournaments? ICC Table Tennis Director Rajul Sheth had his doubts about the turnout for his tournament that occurred in the mid-March. Just a few days before the entry deadline, ICC had not received many entries. Although it is normal that many players don’t enter tournaments early, he was still worried. To his relief, on the day of the deadline, ICC received over 40 entries. So, the answer is a pleasant yes. Table tennis growth in the Bay Area is for real. Not only did ICC got over 180 entries, both the Sacramento and Northridge tournaments had over 150 each. Okay, so the quantity was there. How about the quality for the ICC tournament? I would say excellent because the top three seeds – Zhou Xin (2760), Liu JianXu (2718), and Xia Jiwei (2659) – were ranked first, third, and fifth among men in the United States. The reigning US Women’s Champion and runner-up, Ariel Hsing (2547) and Lily Zhang (2502), also entered and were only the seventh and eighth seeds. Alas, Lily had to pull out due to an arm injury. Otherwise, the field would have been even stronger. As a tradition, the tournament starts on Friday evening for junior events (Boys Under 11/15 and Girls’ Under 11/15) and beginners (U250 and U500). The competition in the Boys’ Under 15 event was fierce, with the top three players rated over 2100. However, the ratings meant little. The fourth seed Rico Zhou (2022) upset the third seed Anil Ramappa (2111) in five games in the preliminary round – Rico was red hot. He almost burned second seed Bryant Lin (2234) in the semifinals but eventually lost deuce in the fifth to the even hotter Bryant (8, -9, -8, 11, 12). Bryant continued his momentum and upset the top seed Aashay Patel (2297) in the final. The turnout for the U250 and U500 events were impressive, with 17 and 28 players in the respective events. Most of the players in these two events were under 10. Players, look out. They are on their ways to get you! Saturday was a busy day. Two events had over 40 entries, three over 30, and two over 25 and we used only 13 tables for the tournament. The day started at 9 a.m. and finished at 10:30 p.m. Thanks goes to the tournament staff – all of them volunteers. It was not easy but we survived. There were a few players who were a bit under-rated. For example, Kaiman Chan (758), aka Sam, went through the U800 event without losing a game. He also won the U1300 event, losing only two games! However, I don’t consider him a typical sandbagger although he did earn himself the nickname “Sandbagger” after his brilliant performance. Sam has been training hard since his last tournament in 2011 and the hard work paid off. He gained a whopping 436 points from the tournament. Fourteen other players

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

gained over 100 rating points at the tournament. In fact, there were so many adjustments that the average gain for every player was about 20 points. The highest events were on Sunday: U2500, U2300, and Open Singles. The first event was U2500, which started at 9AM sharp. All preliminary groups started simultaneously. All but one of the top eight seeds advanced to the single elimination main draw in the U2500 event. Jordon Yee (2109), a rising junior from the Alameda Club, stunned the second seed Truong Tu (2405) in five games (-4, 9, 11, -6, 7). It got even more chaotic in the main draw. The top seed Michael Hyatt (2443) was victimized by yet another junior, Krish Avvari (2265). The second seed, former Hong Kong junior team member Johnny Cheung (2309), who came to the United States for college, was beaten by former Chinese Taipei junior team member Michelle Yang (2227) in a nail-biting five gamer (-10, 14, -1, 10, 10). However, it was the fourth seed Aashay who shone at last over his buddy and long-time training partner Krish in the final. Age-wise, six out of eight quarterfinalists were under 20 and five under 16! Open Singles was very strong. The top seed Zhou Xin, former Chinese National team member, lost only three matches in the Unites States in all of 2011: to Thomas Keinath from Croatia at the US Open in seven games; Eugene Wang from Canada at the LA Open in the final; and Liu Jianxu from China at the ICC tournament in December in the final. Both Thomas and Eugene were top 100 in the world while Liu ranked the third amongst all the active US men. Zhou’s best win in 2011 was over the current Singapore National team member Yang Zi, who already qualified for the 2012 Olympics and was 60 in the world when they played at the LA Open in the semifinal (4, 9, -5, 4, -4, 8, 12). Zhou also won the two 4-star JOOLA Berkeley tournaments in a row. The second seed Liu Jianxu played in the Italian League last year before he moved to the United States. The third seed Xia Jiwei studied in college in Japan and was a coach/training partner for the Japanese National team. Xia won the Northridge Open and AMDT San Francisco Open in March alone. All three top seeds knew each other when they were in China. In fact, Zhou and Xia both came from the same city Tianjin and trained together at one point when they were kids. The fourth, fifth, and sixth seeds were no slouches either. Zhang Di (2587) was in the Zibo team in Shandong, China. Liu Dan (2584) was in Sichuan team and Anal Kashyap (2559) was a former India National team member. So, who would reign supreme? All the top seeds in the preliminary groups put on their poker faces and advanced to the main draw. Only one upset occurred in the round of 16. Krish, the 12-year-old, pulled another upset over Johnny Cheung. Not a good day for Johnny, who has not been training seriously and is a full-time college student now. There was also a small upset in the quarterfinals where Liu Dan beat Zhang Di and earned himself a spot in the semifinals. The top three seeds made it to the semifinals as well. At this point, four tables were folded to make rooms for a center court for the semifinals and final. More spectators started to arrive. (Some even brought their own chairs.) The first semifinal was between ICC teammates Zhou Xin and Liu Dan. They were friendly off the court but they fought seriously on the court. Although considered an under-dog by most, Dan did not think so. His fighting spirit was highly appreciated by many spectators and perhaps even Zhou Xin. However, Zhou fought off the rigorous resistance from Liu and won in six games (6, 5, -14, -6, 7, 9). The second semifinal was supposed to be played by the California Table Tennis Academy (CTTA) teammates Liu Jianxu and Xia Jiwei. However, Liu pulled his muscle in the quarterfinal when he faced the fearless Ariel. He beat Ariel in five (3, 7, 7, -3, 9) but not without paying a price – Liu had to forfeit his semifinal. So the final was set, between Zhou Xin and Xia Jiwei, a rematch of the Western Open quarterfinal in February when Zhou beat Xia in a cliffhanging seven-gamer (9, 9, -13, -9, 9, -4, 9). Would Xia have his revenge? Zhou firmly determined not to let it happen and won in five (10, 5, -6, 9, 7). Most players and spectators seemed to have fun in the tournament. In fact, lots of players who did not enter the tournament came just to watch. It was probably the most watched tournament amongst all ICC tournaments. The most exciting part of the tournament was that we had at least 60 juniors entered – and most performed well. In addition, we had players not just from the Bay Area but also from Sacramento and Southern California as well as from Texas, Ohio, Oregon, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Thanks to everyone and until the next time in May 2012! The complete results are available at: http://www.milpitas-tabletennis.com/ICC_Tournament/March2012/

EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE OFFER OFFER FOR FOR READERS READERSOF OFUSATT USATTMAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Is Your Rating Still Below 1900? If your rating is still below 1900, here's how to elevate your game to the next level... Improve your serve, return of serve and third ball attack! It's a fact. Mastering these skills is what separates the best players from the rest. In a survey of top level table tennis matches it was established that the serve and return of serve accounted for 30% of the points won, and that the service follow-up shot accounted for a further 26% of the points won. That's more than half of the points won in every match! So if you want to win more matches and take your game to the next level, it's essential that you improve these 3 critical areas of your game. And here's how you can do it... In his brand new 53 page book “Service Secrets” Martin Hughes from www.AllAboutTableTennis.com explains exactly how you can improve these critical areas of your game. He reveals all the essential techniques, strategies, tactics and tips that you'll need to take your game to the next level. With over 40 years experience in table tennis, Martin combines his extensive knowledge of the game with his ability to explain these table tennis techniques clearly and simply so that you can apply them to your game and win more matches. And he's offering readers of USATT magazine who order within the next 30 days, an exclusive 30% discount off the cost of this book. Martin's book starts by showing you how to use your serves more effectively. And mastering this skill is essential because...

Good Serves Win Matches It's a fact that players who reach a higher standard have developed serves which enable them to take control of the game and win more matches. They also think tactically when serving, whereas lower rated players often start a point without any tactical thought at all. And because the serve is the only time in a match when you have total control over how and where you play the ball, it's important that you use it to your best advantage. So if you want to set up your best shots by serving more effectively, or simply win more points straight from your serve, you'll need to understand...

The Essential Elements Of Successful Serving Using text and diagrams, Martin clearly explains the essential elements of successful serving, including... • The importance of tactical thinking • The 3 phases of the serve • The best types of serves to use • Service placement, and • Angles of play He then goes on to explain the most important element of successful serving...how to get more spin on your serves.

How To Get More Spin On Your Serves Quite simply, spin serves are now such an integral part of modern table tennis that unless you know how to use them to your advantage, you'll never improve your game. Martin explains how to get more spin on your serves and uses clear and simple diagrams to aid your understanding. You'll also learn how to disguise and vary your spin serves and there are 7 practice drills you can use to improve them.

How To Return Serve Effectively The second half of the book covers the return of serve. The return of serve is regarded as the second most important stroke in table tennis (after the serve itself) because it's the first opportunity for you as the receiver to play the ball. A good return will enable you to take control of the rally, but making a good return is dependent upon a number of factors, so Martin explains... • The importance of the ready position • How to read the direction of the serve • How to read spin, and the importance of • Returning the ball to specific areas of the table Again there are diagrams to accompany the text as well as web links to video demonstrations of how to play your strokes.

How To Read Your Opponent's Spin But in order to maximise your chances of playing a good return it's also important that you understand how to read spin. So if you've ever struggled to return your opponent's serve, then this part is for you. You'll discover how to read your opponent's spin serves and what strokes you should play in response to different spin serves. Finally in this section you'll find 6 practice drills that you can use to improve your return of serve.

Yes, this book includes everything you need to improve your serve and return of serve and will easily elevate your game to the next level. Here's what you need to do... ”Service Secrets” is only available from Martin's web site. So just go to www.AllAboutTableTennis.com/book and get your copy today. Readers of USATT magazine who order within the next 30 days can also get an exclusive 30% discount off the cost of this book. All you need to do to claim your discount is enter USATT into the coupon code box at the checkout. Remember...without this information your game isn't going to improve. So get your copy today.

100% Money Back Guarantee There's also a no-quibble 60 Day Money Back Guarantee. That's right. Order this book today and put the tactics and strategies to work immediately. If your match play doesn't improve after you've started using these tactics and strategies, you can get all your money back. Simple. So there really is no reason for you to delay any further.

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

48th Robo-Pong St. Joseph Valley Open by Dan Seemiller The 48th Robo-Pong St. Joseph Valley Open was held on March 10 and 11 in South Bend, Indiana. A total of 174 players participated in the 3-star event hosted at the Indiana University at South Bend Student Activities Center. This may be the longest running major tournament in the US. Some of the past 48 winners of the Open include, Richard Hicks, Bernie Bukiet,, John Varga, and more recently, Alexander Karakasevic, and Mark Hazinski. Thirty tables were used this year on the large wooden floor at IUSB. Mark Hazinski, home on spring break from TWU with wife Sara, won the Open for a sixth time. He defeated Fernando Yamazoto(Lindenwood), in the final 4-0. Mark took out Venkat Ramesh(Lindenwood) 4-2 in the semifinals. Fernando won his semifinal against yours truly 4-3 after being up 3-0. It was 7-7 in game seven before Fernando pulled it out 11-8. Sara Hazinski dropped a 4-2 match to Fernando in the quarter finals. In the 2550 event,Yamazoto won again over Sara Hazinski in the final. In the 2450 event, Karin Fukushima defeated Joe Cochran in the final. Joe led 2-0 but wound up losing 3-2. Karin also made the 2300 final but lost to Lindenwood teammate Fred Canterelli. In the 2200 event, Dan Seemiller Jr. won over Yuvraaj Dookram (Lindenwood) in a well played match 3-1. Great topspin rallies back and forth as Dan Jr. had to outlast Yuvraaj in some topspin rallies that went 5-7 shots each. Lindenwood University sent 13 players to the tournament and they continued their winning ways in the 2100’s as MunkholdBayarsaikhan won over Haitham. Salman in the final. Again both players excelled in the topspin rallies. In the 2000’s a much improved Richard Vesel defeated Yong Xue. Dave Fortney won 2 events, the 1950s, and the over 50 events. Dave won 2 events at last year’s tournament also. Congrats! ArcotNaresh smashed his way past JacekWisniewski to win the 1900 and Indiana residents Brandon Eiler 1st and Greg Smith 2nd in the 1800 event. To try and increase attendance, Brad Balmer, who did the time schedule and program book for the event, had the idea to add a 54

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

couple of rating events in the high attendance categories of the 2000, 1900, 1800, and put them on different days. So the 2000s would be on Saturday and the 1950 on Sunday whereas the 1800 would be on Saturday and the 1775 on Sunday. We had 29 more entries this year, and Sunday was quite comparable to Saturday. In the past more than 65-70 percent of the tournament was held on Sat. This time it was almost 50-50. So if a player in the mid range(1700-2000) could only attend one day then they most likely would still have their rating event to participate in. The 1775’s was won by Fady Elmallah over Ravi Syal from Toronto. Austin Reilly, Indianapolis, combination looper and defender, defeated Vincent Chang to win the 1675s. Vincent, from Carmel, was the runner up in the 1475 and 1675s. The 1575s saw Vincent’s brother Darren Change defeat Van Lein the final. Tadeusz Alberski won the 1475s. Don Smedstadof Highland chopped and countered his way past South Bend board member Scott Czarnecki 3-1 in the 1300 finals. Robert Heitz defeated James Squire in the 1100s, and youngster Sid Naresh, while Dad Acott won the 1900s, he won the 900 event over Dr. Bob Hall .Ahmed Tauseet won the 1000 event over Randy Spiecher of South Bend. In the 40s Chip Coulter and Dan Seemiller split while in the 50s Barry Carter was the runner up to Dave Fortney. Dan SeemillerJr won three events. The 2200 rated event, the 4000 doubles event with Zach Steele, and the Hardbat event. Phil Schmucker finished second in the Hardbat, and Carl Bradley and Federico Bassetti were the runners up in the 4000 doubles event. Rated doubles is hard to schedule because of the vast combination of ratings. We started this event at 8:30 Sunday morning, but this was the night the clocks were moved forward one hour so it really felt like it was 7:30. Everyone showed up for their first match on time and not one player forgot about the time change. That’s a record. In the junior divisions, there were some great matches. The 13 and under was won by SeyedHamrahian(Ohio) over Peter Yang

(Wisconsin). Seyed is improving fast and is only 11 years old, and his style is very unique. He is a defender who loops and has an all around game. Seyed also has many good serves. Peter, 12, plays a lefty topspin looping game. Peter and Seyed would meet in the 15 finals again on Court 1. This time though 11-9 in the fifth for Peter. At 9-10. Seyed did a tomahawk topspin serve. Peter read it properly and backhanded it away for a winner. If you go with a topspin serve at the end you may be at the mercy of the receiver if he reads it right. In the 18 and under, Seth Pech, 16, from Ohio, dominated the event. He defeated David Lee, 14, of Minnesota. Seth is a quick righty topspinner and David a lefty topspinner. It was three straight for Seth. David is only 14 and is also improving fast, recently breaking the 2000 barrier. Thanks to Newgy Corporation for their continued sponsorship of this 48th St. Joseph Valley Open in South Bend. Kagin Lee was the refereeonve again and Jorge Vanegas did most of the umpiring. Butterfly sponsored the scoreboards and the balls for the tournament. I am lucky as coach of the South Bend Table Tennis Club to have such an experienced staff willing to volunteer to host our tournaments- Jason Denman, Brad Balmer, Jim Willits, Jim Gigli, Bob Tolen, Matt Russell, Scott Czarnecki, Phil Schmucker, Paul George, Barry Chan, Val Seemiller, Dan Seemiller Jr., John and Zach Steele, Aaron Freel, Arnold Smith, and Randy Speicher. As we look forward to the US Open in Grand Rapids and the London Olympics later this summer, mark your calendars for Oct. 27 and 28. The South Shore Sports/ Butterfly 4 star with the Wasserman junior events has been moved up two weeks earlier in the schedule for 2012.

RESULTS: OPEN: Mark Hazinski def. Fernando Yamazoto 4-0 (9, 8, 7, 5), Semifinal- Hazinski def. Venkat Ramesh 4-2 (7, 6, -8, 2, -8, 6), Yamazoto def. Dan Seemiller 4-3 (5, 5, 5, -8, -8, -9, 8) Women: Karin Fukushima def Michelle John 3-1 (-10,7,5,7) Open Doubles: Yamazoto/Ramesh defHazinski/Seemiller 2550- F. Yamazotodef Sara Hazinski 2450- Karin Fukushima def. Joe Cochran 2300- Fred Canterelli def. Karin Fukushima 2200- Dan Seemiller Jr. defYuvraajDookram 2100- M. Bayarsaikhan def. H. Salman 2000- Richard Vesel Jr.def Yong Xue 1950- David Fortney def Andre Khailo 1900- ArcotNareshdefJacek Wisniewski 1800- Brandon Eilerdef Greg Smith 1775- FadyElmalleddef Ravi Syal3 1675- Austin Reilly def Vincent Chang 1575- Darren Chang def Van Le 1475- TadeuszAlberskidef Vincent Chang 1300- Don Smedstaddef Scott Czarnecki 1100-Robert Heitzdef James Squire 1000- Ahmed Tauseetdef Randy Speicher 900- Sid Nareshdef Bob Hall 40s- Dan Seemiller def Chip Coulter 50s David Fortney def Barry Carter Hardbat- Dan SeemillerJrdef Phil Schmucker 4000 Doubles- Seemiller/Steele defBasetti/Bradley 18 and Under- Seth Pechdef David Lee 15 and Under â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Peter Yang defSeyedHamrahian 13 and Under- SeyedHamrahaindef Peter Yang Photos by Jason Denman

$18,250 Butterfly

Cary Cup

A binding spirit of cooperation this year at Mike Babuin’s 12th Cary Cup, for the town itself became involved—with Cary Recreation Director Dwayne Jones and Bond Park venue Director Sam Trogdon leading the way (helped by locals, Ella and Erin, and Ben who did the Tournament Program that featured a Welcome from Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Jr.). Of course I have to give more than a nod here to Mike’s wife Mandy. As the Operations Manager charged with preparing these Directors and their assistants for the job at hand, she put together—m’god, talk about a binder—a 200-page manual she’d written on every feature of Cary Cup play, including how to quickly, continually make results available to whoever’s writing up the tournament (I’d never had it so good). No wonder, then, that all went so smoothly. So much so that not even perennial Referee Larry Kesler or Chief Umpire Dick Evans could find fault with a single high-level player objecting to a single serve of his opponent. All sponsors, including Butterfly and Newgy’s, had to have been pleased with the sportsmanship and the event results. I’ll take you now through the various events, beginning quickly with the five the tournament opened with on Friday, then concentrate on the weekend’s Main Event—the marathon Cary Cup. The generous prize money offered down through these six events was complemented by the largest, shiniest, most abundant array of trophies many a player and spectator had ever been dazzled to see. A seventh event—the $1,400 FASTT Sandpaper tournament held Sunday simultaneously with single elimination play between the 16 Cup round robin survivors—will be covered elsewhere by Ty Hoff.

Friday Hardbat The Hardbat event was divided into two round robin groups, out of each of which two players would advance (with can I say Caryovers?) to a Final Four round robin. Used in this Hardbat play were 38 millimeter balls right out of their preserved boxes left over from the 1959 Chinese National’s. Mike had picked these up in bulk to add to his acquired through the years historic t.t. collection, a part of which was again on display in several glass cases in the venue lobby. If the Hall of Fame Committee gets a permanent site as it’s now trying to do Mike will be the curator. In the one bracket, playing out of the Broward, Florida Club, pip of 56

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

by Tim Boggan

a penholder Chu Bin Hai (7-0 without the loss of a game) avenged last year’s loss to Larry Hodges (6-1). Someone called Larry a “wordsmith,” which though it didn’t make my desk dictionary, I don’t think Larry will take umbrage with, for he has published over 50 fantasy/sci-fi stories, and, with two imaginative novels in the Giant Roc wings, is very much on his way to a writing career. Third was Lim Ming Chui who could be seen wearing a jump-suit jacket that spelled out in big letters, “AUSTRALIA.” No, he’s not defected—turns out his younger son Chi-sun, who nearly a quartercentury ago was our U.S. National Junior Champion and is now championing derivative trading, took his girl friend and Ming’s ex and present wives on a vacation to Down Under country. Now, back in the U.S. and surfacing in this event, Chui went down, down, down, dropped a bundle of rating points, to a very self-satisfied Babuin (“I’ve waited 40 years for this win”). By way of explanation for his loss, Ming said on the plane coming here he was sitting in an aisle seat when someone came by with a heavy suitcase and bumped his left elbow. But the pain must unexplainably come and go, for he’ll later win one of those big shiny trophies I spoke of. Chui, Babuin, and Chris Obrian (sic: not O’Brian) all finished with 4-3. In the other bracket, Ty Hoff was 6-0 after getting by Steve Hitchner, 18 in the third. Steve, though he has a good up-to-the-table forcing backhand, didn’t advance, for he was 2-1 stopped by Dmitri Moundous. Dmitri, who played the game in his teens in Siberia, barely found the right chemistry to survive Ty Petty. Up 18-17 in the third, Ty wondered if Dmitri’s ball had caught the edge. When asked, Dmitri deferred, said, “It’s your call.” Ty ceded the point—and lost 21-19. Another exciting match in this bracket saw David DeMay defeat Jonathan Keklak, 22-20 in the third. As he had in years past, Dave came all the way from Alaska for I guess you’d say the relative warmth of bass fishing in nearby Lake Jordan and the camaraderie he enjoys in playing here in Cary. In the Final Four, Chu ($400) 19, 20 prevailed over runner-up Hoff ($200) who’d had a surprisingly easy 15, 15 time with the 2010 and 2011 winner Hodges ($100), more and more now devoting himself to writing and coaching. Fourth was Moundous (Trophy, no cash). Against the “almost retired” Chu—he’s in the import/export business (cutting tools for industrial companies)—Hoff got off to a 7-0 lead, but couldn’t hold it, and then, up 19-18, lost three in a row. At deuce in the second, he

served off, then failed to return serve. Never mind. “My aim in playing,” he said, “was to have a good time—and I did.”

gave Gao his only loss. Jiaqi lost only to Gao. So head-to-head matches determined all placings.

Friday Open Four round robins here, out of each of which a winner would come to form a Final Four. In Group 1, as expected, Chen Zihao (7-0) advanced over #2 finisher D.J. Settle (6-1). In Group 2, Barney Reed (7-0) straight-game advanced over closest competitors Micaiah Skolnick (6-1) and Jim McQueen (5-2). Jim provided Barney with a matching prison playing shirt from his eccentric Boo’s Brothers wardrobe, and they played for a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. In Group 3, Zheng Jiaqi (pronounced Jah-Chee) advanced undefeated, but unexpectedly found herself in real trouble with the enthusiastic, determined, and VERY NOISY 20-year-old Mark Croitoroo representing the New York Spin Club. Mark, at 2255 a 300-point underdog, was leading 2-0, but couldn’t bring about the upset of the tournament. In Group 4, Atlanta pharmacist John Mar (7-0) downed Lancaster, PA’s Gabriel Skolnick (6-1). Final Four results: First, Barney Reed, $300. Second, former U.S. #2 Women’s star Zheng Jiaqi, $300. Both Barney and Jiaqi, practice partners sponsored by Summus, a California Information Technology firm, split the prize money (flipping a coin for first?). Barney understandably was tired. He and his traveling companions weren’t able to make their plane connection at Washington’s Dulles Airport and had to rent a car to get here in time for this a.m. event. Top seed Chen Zihao ($100) was a disappointing (1-2) third. And John Mar (Trophy, no cash) was (1-2) fourth.

Main Event: Cary Cup’s First Stage In the First Stage of the Cary Cup, 144 players via 36 Preliminary round robins of four players each would vie for advancement. In the Second Stage, play would be divided into four Groups (A,B, C, D), each to consist of four 9-player round robins (36 players). Those finishing first in Preliminary play were placed in Group A and would continue to compete in the following way: four players from each of Group A’s four round robins (16 in all) would advance to play Single Elimination for the 16 prize-money positions. Meanwhile, those coming second, third, and fourth in Preliminary play would go into their respective B, C, and D four 9-player Groups and after round robin play the four winners of these Groups would engage in a four-player round robin final for trophies. Upsets in the First Stage of play: Chu Bin Hai (2264) figured he had a 10% chance of making the last 16, but on being beaten by fellow penholder Heather Wang (2121) had 0% chance. Sixteen-year old Micaiah Skolnick, down 2-1 and at 10-all in the fourth, survived John Mar, and thus was able to join his 18-year-old brother Gabriel who’d outlasted Jia Zhen after being down 2-1 and at 14-all in the fourth. Also, Colton Carter (2161) upset Calvin Tinghan Chan (2210).

Under 1500 Final Four advancees: Group 1: John Staylor (7-0) over Wong KaKit (6-1). Group 2: Richie Perez (6-1/5-4) over Vince Green (6-1/4-4) and Ron Yorgason (6-1/4-5). Group 3: Brahmananda Chakraborty (6-1) over runner-up Brandon Koh (5-2). Atlanta’s eleven-year-old Brandon, coached by Shi Gang Yang, gave Chakraborty his only defeat. Playing for only 18 months, Koh’s a kid with promise, huh? At the ’98 World University Games in Sofia, Yang as a player won a gold in the Team’s and a silver in the Mixed with Wu Jia Duo (“Du Du”), for some time now the mainstay of the German National Women’s Team. Group 4: Tom Gabriel over runner-up Ken McFarlane. Final Four results: 1. Chakraborty ($250). 2. Gabriel ($150). 3. Perez ($50). 4. Staylor (Trophy, no cash). Intermediate: 1500-1900 Group 1: Sam Russel (7-0) had no trouble with runner-up Fred Nicolas (6-1), but had to come from down 2-0 (and survive a 15-13 fourth game) to get by Ron Weber. Group 2: Albert Senter (7-0) over Jesse Letchworth (6-1). Group 3: Liang Huigang (7-0) over Le Ly (6-1). Group 4: Tran Chi (7-0), winning 1-2-3-4-5 five-game matches over Steve Hitchner (6-1). Final Four winners: 1. Russel ($250). 2. Sentel ($150). 3. Liang ($50). 4. Tran (Trophy). Advanced Round Robin: Over 1900 Group 1: Chen Zhihao (7-0) over Richard Doverman (aka, 30 years ago on coming from Vietnam, California’s Quang Do). Richard (6-1) outlasted Gabriel Skolnick (5-2), 11-9 in the fifth. Group 2: Zeng Xun (“Jeffrey”) was undefeated, but, though rated 2647, he had to struggle mightily, 18-16 in the fifth, to advance over runner-up Chu Bin Hai, rated 2264. Wow, 18-16 in the fifth—Chu’s 60 years old, almost 400 rating points behind the much younger Zeng. How’d he do it? He must have been tired, especially since it was his 15th match of the day. Group 3: Zheng Jiaqi (2565) in five over Liang Jishang (2635) who was sporting bright orange sneakers. Liang, from Tianjin, China, had been in the States for about five months—coaching in Seattle—before U.S. Junior Boys Coach Shi Gang Yang had brought him to his Atlanta Club. Group 4: GaoYanjun over Barney Reed, 17-15 in the 5th. Final Four money winners: 1. Gao Yanjun ($600…whereas if he’d lost any of those ad- down points to Barney, he wouldn’t have gotten a penny). 2. Zheng Jiaqi ($500). 3. Zeng Xun ($200). 4. Chen Zhihao ($100). Chen lost five-game matches to Jiaqi and “Jeffrey,” but

Second Stage—Groups B, C, D I’ll continue in a moment with Second Stage play in Group A that will lead us to the money, but first here are the final results of the other Groups. Group B: #1. John Mar. #2. Lim Ming Chui. Ming says he can do 1,000 jumping jacks, has danced away 25 pounds (is down to 136), has a 28-inch waist, and would like to start a series of “Black Belt” t.t. tourneys that would make money for the USATT. He also thinks he’s uncovered evidence that, though his official age is 64, he may be 66. #3. Calvin Tinghang Chan (lost a five-gamer to Chui in the final round robin). #4. Roy Ke. Group C: #1. Spencer Ip: 7-0/3-0. #2. Lilly Lin. #3. Elias Gomez. #4. Michael Whitmeyer. Group D: #1. Amy Lu, 8-0/2-1. #2. John Pahl, 7-0/2-1. #3. Jane Wu, 6-1/1-2. #4. Philip Furtado, 7-0/1-2. Second Stage—Championship Group Championship play has narrowed down to four 9-player round robins in Group A. Group A-1 Results: 1. Canada’s #1 Wang Zhen (“Eugene”), 8-0. 2. Jim Butler, 7-1. That’s THE Jim Butler, three-time U.S. Champion, two-time Olympian, now no longer retired. “I’m ready for a fresh new career,” he says. “I love the Game. I’ve been away since the 2003 U. S. Open—didn’t hit a ball in eight and a half years.” So what’s he been doing? Making a living of course and enjoying it. He’s a muscle specialist, based in Houston. That is, with 14 years of experience, including manual manipulation, he works with doctors to help patients, teaches them how to be their own doctors so that they themselves can fix muscle disfunctions and the pain caused by them. Suffering stiffness? You should see what he can do with a small board and a peg in it. As it happens, Jim’s been playing a lot of table tennis in recent months, and “within a year,” he says, “I’ll be back in form.” And, yes, you can believe him. In his Group A round robin play, he lost only to the tournament favorite Zhen Wang (“Eugene”), 2011 U.S. Open runnerup to Thomas Keinath. Jim beat both the #3 finisher, current U.S. Champion Peter Li (6-2) in four, and Canadian National Team member James Pintea (5-3), son of former Canadian International Horatio Pintea and World Women’s and Mixed Doubles Champion Geng Lijuan, in five. The Jim-Jim match featured a really gutsy comeback from Butler, for, down 2-1 and 20-16, he aggressively took every chance possible and won that game 12-10, then again scored a six-straight rally from down 7-2 (up 8-7) to take the fifth. All was not lost for Pintea, however, for his win over the #5 finisher, U.S. 2012 World Team member Grant Li, allowed him and not Grant to advance—but, oh well, Grant’s got a scholarship to Boston College in the fall). Group A-2 Results: 1. Chen Hongtao, 8-0. 2. Zheng Jiaqi, 7-1 (after being up 2-0, she lost in five to Chen). 3. Li Hangyu, 6-2 (our nativeborn John Wetzler forced him into the fifth). 4. Zeng Xun (“Jeffrey”), 5-3. I think someone said Defending Champion Zeng just got back from China and, if so, the transitional move might well have affected his play.

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Group A-3 Results: 1. Canada’s Pierre-Luc Hense, 8-0. 2. Liang Jishang, 7-1. 3. Feng Yijun (“Tom”), 6-2—he beat Chen Zihao 12-10 in the fifth, and, though winning, had to go five with 2010 Top Woman Winner Li Tao. 4. Chen Zihao, 4-4. Chen played four five-game matches and won only one of them—stopped Rocky Wang (3-5) who’d switched from pips to inverted on his backhand. However, his 4-4/5/4 games record allowed him to advance over the others: Li 4-4 (4/4) and Cheng Yinghuacoached Nathan Hsu 4-4 (4/5) who’d upset Chen. The last-played match in this Group kept Nathan out, for Li gave him his fourth loss (had she beat him 3-0, not 3-1, she would have advanced, not Chen). Group A-4 Results: 1. Gao Yanjun emerged first out of a three-way 7-1/4-4 tie. (Current Canadian World Team member Andre Ho after losing the opening game got recharged with a 13-11 win in the second and went on to take the match in four from Gao). 2. Barney Reed (lost to Gao in four but beat Ho 14-12 in the fourth). 3. Ho (who’ll be going to Ottawa’s Carleton University this fall). 4. Han Xiao was an unimpressive 5-3 (he had to go five to beat Jonathan Ou who if he’d won would have advanced instead of Han). Third Stage—Championship Eighth’s Results of the four Top Bracket Eighth Matches: Canada’s Wang Zhen (“Eugene”) with an easy 3-0 win over Feng Yijun (all 8th’s losers receive the consolation of $300). Zeng Xun (“Jeffrey”) over Barney Reed in an ending fourth where Barney’s play was just spiritless. “You just didn’t have any feeling,” I said sympathetically to him. “Zero,” he said. Will $300 Top Woman Award winner Zheng Jiaqi beat 20-year-old Andre Ho? At 1-1 and 5-all in the third, Jiaqi runs six straight and out. Down 10-7 in the fourth, she bangs in Ho’s serve, then soon squeals with delight on deucing it up, only to lose the opportunity with a final push into the net. In the fifth, Jiaqi, comfortably quick, maybe rushes, misses a hanger. But does it matter—she’s up 8-3. Uh, yeah, it does. Her lead is cut to 9-8, and now she makes a big mistake, maybe a fatal one—she tentatively passes up the chance to attack a soft forehand from Ho and loses the point when Andre gets an edge. Does Jiaqi have a déjà vu moment? Last year, Marcus Jackson, helped by an edge and a net, was able to move through a series of fifth-game ads to defeat Zheng. But Jiaqi gets the 10-9 ad, then wastes it by floating her serve return off. Then she’s up 11-10, but misses a forehand. Now it’s Ho’s turn, and his forehand goes in. But Jiaqi fearlessly counters and ties it at 12-all. Then, oh, oh, déjà vu—Zheng gets thrown off by a net ball. But Ho can’t take advantage…and, finally beaten 15-13, spins up his racket. Peter Li, the 2011 U.S. Champion, but the unfunded fifth man on the 2012 U.S. Team, will not go to Dortmund, Germany for the World Championships. Unfunded—how is that possible? Maybe he didn’t want to go as fifth man? Peter’s now a marketing intern for Joola and plans to go to Berkeley to begin his university studies in the fall. Doesn’t that take a psychic toll on his play here? He loses in straight games to Canadian National Team member Pierre-Luc Hinse who didn’t see his parents for the Christmas or New Year’s holidays because for three months he was off playing and training in Europe and China. Certainly different mind sets with these two. Results of the four Bottom Bracket Matches: Gao Yanjun over James Pintea three-zip. USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012 58

For the first two games between Li Hangyu and Liang Jishang play was 1-1 even. But Liang ended the third with a four-point run and streaked to an 8-1 lead in the deciding fourth. Afterwards, Li, 18, formerly from North China, was in a hurry to leave, for it was quite a drive to Houston—Spring Break had ended and he had to be back at his Cinco Ranch High School in the morning. Butler, after losing the first, did away with Han Xiao in four, but, impressed as I was by Jim’s play, I can’t help but feel Han, who’d fought Michael Landers so intensely in being runner-up to Peter Li at our 2011 National’s, just wasn’t into playing. He’s loaded down with responsibilities—his everyday computer work, his beginning efforts to branch out on his own, his Masters studies. The finish here between these two was surreal. Down 8-0, Han served off, then at 9-0 it was as if he was given a point by Jim, that point immediately returned by Han in his 11-1 loss. Chen Zihao fought back from being down 2-0 to Canada’s Chen Hongtao, but fell short, 11-9 in the fourth. Hongtao’s originally from China, but has long had connections with his mother living in Mississauga, Ontario, is a Canadian citizen, and, studying English, is now with the National Team in Ottawa. Maybe you’ve noticed: more and more and more Chinese are coming to the U.S. and Canada. Quarter’s Again a relatively easy 3-0 win for #1 seed Wang Zhen—this time over Maryland Club Coach Zeng Xun who as a losing quarterfinalist earned $500. Jiaqi, 24, having knocked off one Canadian World Team member, now faced another—Hense, also 24. Pierre-Luc practices at the Ottawa Training Centre usually 11 times a week under the direction of Coach Duan Yongjun who a year or so ago arrived in Canada via Tianjin and Singapore. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games he’d won the Mixed with Li Jia Wei, still going strong as World #15 and a member of the vaunted Singapore Women’s Team. Hense says Coach Duan “aims for perfection” and has “improved his basic strokes” and “made him more aware of the ever-present need for tactical changes.” Against Zheng, Hense, building a 9-4 lead, easily wins the first. But then Jiaqi quickly begins to dominate play—her smack-in forehands make a great sound in this gym that magnifies the players’ sneaker squeals and stamps. She runs out the second from 8-7 to take a 5-1 lead in the third. But, as someone said of Table Tennis, “Every five years we see a new sport—now there’s more power in the Game.” Hense, with a sudden surge, seems to be looping and hitting harder than he has in years past. He goes on to win this match as Zheng uncharacteristically makes too many errors—he was surprised, he said, that she played with so little caution, really beat herself. Still, it had to be a worthwhile coastto-coast trip for her—she’ll go back to her Fremont, CA base, her parttime managerial job, some classes at Northwestern Polytechnic, and maybe even take some time off from sharpening her strokes to spend some of that $1,600 she took away with her here. Gao Yanjun, the 2010 Champ and 2011 Finalist, coaches at a Chinese Community Center in Queens, and at 34 keeps himself in good shape by not only regular practice and tournament play but by working out at a gym two or three times a week. His opponent, Liang Jishhang, is lookin’ good. Up 2-1 and 9-8 in the fourth, he scores on a great running counter from deep court and goes up double match point. But he makes an error,

and Gao, down 10-9, hits in a clean backhand winner…and, continuing to rally, sends the match into the fifth. After Gao makes a fantastic counter to tie it up at 6-all, then another standout counter-loop to go up 7-6, they trade off points until Gao, having positional advantage, misses a big forehand to go match-point down. But though Liang has the serve, Gao wrests control of the point and with a forehand/backhand attack deuces it. It is of course anybody’s game, but Gao wins it, 12-10, spins around once, spins around again, fist up, as if he himself is surprised and impressed by his win. Liang, always professionally poised, turns to Jiaqi, hands resignedly open, as if by way of explanation, “Hey, losing happens.” Now it’s Jim Butler, with brother Scott in his corner, against the powerful Canadian Wang (“Eugene”). Earlier, Jim, alone at a table, had wanted quickly to practice his variety of serves, so he asked me to catch them. I’d never in all my table tennis life done that or even seen it done, and my inability to do it, lunging with one hand or two, was I hope more laughable than embarrassing. Though Jim lost to Wang in three, there was nothing laughable or embarrassing about his play. Well, maybe, just a little. In the first, he’s down 6-0, makes a wind-up counter that wins him the point but makes him lose his balance and land on his rear—at which the crowd erupts. But he rights himself—so much so that he leads 10-9 before Wang gets in a forehand and goes on to win the game. In the second, at 9-all Jim misses his signature backhand thrust to go down game-point, but then stretches to scoop up a return and get to deuce. Ad up, he steers a forehand into the net. Again he ends up on the gym floor, but with a strong forehand counter rises to the occasion. Another forehand counter keeps him alive at 12-all. He’s said before how pleased he was that his forehand was coming round quicker than he’d expected. But now, driven back, he loses the point, and the next one too when down 13-12 he serves off! In the third, he’s down 9-4 and can’t recover. Of course Jim’s disappointed he couldn’t capitalize on those chances he had to close out at least one game. Someone suggested Butler needs a backhand loop. But Jim says, “My technique’s o.k., I need training. Still, just coming back, what can I expect?” —a recognition echoed by one observer when he points out that Wang is a formidable opponent, “a professional coming from a system.” A professional indeed. At the recent Slovenia Open, Wang had picked up $1,400 for getting to the quarter’s. Semi’s In the one semi’s, it’s two Canadians—Hinse vs. the highly-favored Wang. Only in the second game can Hense, who’s not been happy with his forehand play, put up any meaningful opposition. But even there, drawing a collective groan from the crowd (as when he butchered two drop shots) he whiffs an over-the-table forehand to lose 11-9. Still, as a losing semifinalist, he earns $1,000. In the other semi’s, it’s Gao vs. 20-year-old Chen Hongtao who’d spent a year in Japan—not learning to eat sushi as somebody said, but helping Japanese women players. Gao opens with one of his favorite

point-getters—a backhand thrust down his opponent’s forehand line. He can’t muster a winning lead, but does tie it up at 9-all with a deft touch-return of serve. Then he has ads, but can’t finish Chen. At 11-all, Gao pops up a ball that Chen blows away, and then he closes himself out with a ball into the net. In the second, he’s 9-4 down and loses that game too. But in the third, ahead 9-6, Gao aces Chen with a perfect backhand return of serve to the forehand, and goes on to take that game. In the fourth, up 9-5, he again aces Chen with a return to the wide forehand. A yell of satisfaction from Gao. Which is a mite premature as it turns out, for he loses 1-2-3-4 points in a row before calling TIME! That seems to settle him though—and he scores an 11-9 winner. Match all even. There’s a great opening to the fifth: Chen is darting about defensively, then lobbing, trying to hold off loss of the point, but eventually not succeeding. Nevertheless, after Gao scores with an edge ball, it’s the Canadian who at 4-4 pulls away. Down 9-5, Gao does not appear cheered by a voice booming, “Never give up, Gao!” Finally, that’s it— we’re going to have an all-Canadian final. Final: Hey, where’s long time Canadian International Pradeeban Peter-Paul? I know he’s said he doesn’t play well here in Cary, but…Oh! He’s 34, and thus so old he’s lost his Canadian Team funding and will have to develop some other way now—though of course he’s been on the Canadian National Team ever since he came to Canada as a teenager. A disappointing way for a National Champion to go…just disappear from the Sport. Flexibility…in the wrist—that’s what someone was saying the Canadians had, more so than the Americans. Well, this tournament was another chance to study them in action, get a sense of what might happen in the upcoming Cary Olympic Trials. First game to Wang Zhen (“Eugene”) 11-5 when Chen Hongtao serves into the net. Early second-game play sees Chen hitting forehands from his backhand side then veering into backhand thrusts. This game he’s holding his own—at least up to 7-all. But then he loses this one too, 11-8.You can’t blame the crowd for not being too responsive— especially when Wang’s up 6-1 in the third. A sudden unexpected spurt of points from Chen though, but then a relapse, and after again serving into the net he’s a goner. However, as a Finalist he gets $2,000. I always wanted to ask winner Wang ($3,500) if anyone ever called him “Eugene,” so I finally did. He said, “Not very often.” Then I said, “How about ‘Gene’? They ever call you ‘Gene’?” “They call me ‘Wang,’” he said good-humoredly. And then he added, “In Chinese, ‘Wang’ means ‘King.’” Photos by Rick Thigpen: Barney Reed, Jim Butler, Hongtao Chen, and Eugene Wang (and also Eugene Wang on page 56)

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Cary Cup 2012 FASTT

Photo of Ty Hoff by Steve Hopkins

Sandpaper Event March 18, Cary, NC – The Cary TTA sponsored a FASTT Sandpaper Pro event as part of the 2012 Cary Cup. Fourteen players entered the event that sported $1,000 in prize money. The players were split into two initial round robins. Shigang Yang (sponge rated 2621) of Atlanta, GA faced US Sandpaper #2 Bin Hai Chu of Miami Lakes, FL but Shigang was no match for the sandpaper experienced Bin losing 21-5, 21-8. Winston Jimenez (who had just flown in from his native Philippines) then took down Bin Hai 21-19, 21-17. Shigang then defaulted to Winston, after perhaps realizing sandpaper was not as easy as it looks. Last year’s third place finisher Dimitri Moundous of Raleigh, NC barely edged out Ty Petty of Tennessee to finish in third place since Shigang was disqualified from the final rounds for defaulting out. Jim Butler of Houston, TX entered the event but had to default all his matches because he was still alive and playing in the sponge event that morning. Defending Cary Cup Sandpaper Champion and US Sandpaper #1 Ty Hoff of Palm Harbor, FL was nearly upset by former roommate and Augusta State University teammate Scott Butler of Advance, NC. Ty won the first game easily 21-7, but Scott changed his tactics and won the second game 21-18. Scott led the nervous Ty the whole third game until 18 all. Ty went up 20-18, but Scott closed to 19 before one last forehand sailed long, giving Ty the shaky win. Scott, however, edged out Ryan Francisco of the Philippines 21-19 in the third, and DJ Settle of Wilson, NC in three games, to finish second in the group and advance to the Championship final round robin group. Wins and losses carried over to the final group. Scott lost to Bin Hai 22-20, 21-11 and then defaulted to Winston so that he could go coach brother Jim in the quarterfinals of the sponge event happening in the other arena. Ty won a surprisingly easy match over Winston 21-9, 21-12. So going into the final match between Ty and Bin it was conceivable that Ty, Bin, or Winston could still finish in first place. Ty could either win, or get a single game, or score enough points to finish first. Bin needed to win two straight with lopsided scores in order to finish in first. Winston needed Bin to win two straight but by not too big of a margin. Got it? Ty looked very comfortable the first game and seemed to be intent on playing every single point. Ty’s forehand was on as he took the first game 21-18. This game win ensured Ty would finish in first place with the best game record between the three players. Bin did take the next two games 21-16, 21-12 however Bin finished in third place for the tournament due to his straight game loss to Winston earlier. So Ty retained his title with Winston coming in second place. Plans are to further increase the prize money for next year’s event. 60

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

FASTT National Pro Rankings * as of 4/30/2012 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Name Ty Hoff Bin Hai Chu Keith Alban Kit Jeerapaet Johnard Baldonado Winston Jimenez Bill Robbins Al Palumbo Scott Butler Benjamin Chan Dashiel Neimark Hector Berrios Raymond Liang Ryan Francisco Jerome Salig Romeo Vivo Dmitri Moundous DJ Settle Ty Petty Hung Tran Fred Hautsch Calvin So Eddie Bonfigli Jim Weisbecker Fred Halbig

State FL FL FL FL NV PH FL FL NC NV FL FL FL PH NV NV NC NC TN FL FL FL FL FL MO

* prize money over previous 12 months

Earnings $1,441 $930 $405 $306 $206 $205 $141 $133 $105 $104 $77 $58 $56 $55 $54 $54 $53 $53 $52 $52 $44 $43 $28 $24 $23

Announcing: MONTHLY 3 & & 4-STAR TOURNAMENTS! Jun. 9-10 Jul. 21-22 Jan. Aug.21-22 18-19 Feb. Sep.25-26 29-30 Mar. *Oct.24-25 20-21 Nov.28-29* 10-11 Apr. Dec. 15-16 Jun. 9-10

$4,500+ in $4,500 in Cash Prizes 1stCash PrizePrizes $1,500 1stEvery PrizeMonth $1,500 Every Month * October - $6,000+ in prizes *April $6,000+ in Prizes 1st- Prize $2,500 1st Prize $2,500

Robert Roberts (manager), Will Shortz (owner), Westchester Table Tennis Center

18 Tables • 13,000+ Square Feet High Ceiling First-Class Playing Conditions Open 7 days

175 Tompkins Ave., Pleasantville, NY • 914-741-0738 Convenient from New York City by train or car For registration forms or more information:

www.westchestertabletennis.com Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

62 44

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012 USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • Nov/Dec 2007

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

RANKINGS

USATT National Rankings TOP MEN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 48 50

CA 2766 IL 2746 CA 2720 GA 2677 CA 2663 NJ 2657 CA 2642 NY 2634 NY 2630 WA 2626 TX 2625 MD 2614 TX 2610 NJ 2605 TX 2597 TX 2593 CA 2590 CA 2590 TX 2589 CA 2579 CA 2576 CA 2575 NJ 2573 MD 2573 TX 2573 NJ 2560 NY 2560 MD 2559 CA 2555 CA 2554 NJ 2554 TX 2551 PA 2541 MD 2536 CA 2531 NY 2528 CA 2524 TX 2522 NY 2521 TX 2521 CA 2521 NY 2520 NY 2519 MO 2517 NY 2516 TX 2515 FL 2514 NY 2513 TX 2512 NY 2511

Zhou, Xin Lupulesku, Ilija Liu, Jianxu Yang, Jian Xia, Jiwei Zhuang, David Wei, Lai Gao, YanJun Landers, Michael Fan, Yiyong Ball, Andreas Cheng, Yinghua Hazinski, Mark Liang, Jishan Li, Cheng Yang, Liang Zhang, Weijian Liu, Dan Wang, Timothy Zhang, Di Molla, Zaman Ku, Mu Hsuan Hugh, Adam Li, Peter Liu, Nan Zhang, Kai Manousoff, Stefan J Zeng, Xun Kashyap, Anal Reed, Barney Yin, Peng Butler, Jim Oh, Choor Sime Xiao, Han Piyadasa, Thilina Wang, Max Qinmin Liu, Xibo Feng, Yijun Shao, Yu Barbosa, Jose Cui, Baoqun Ebuen, Ernesto Wang, Can Kevin Ramesh, Venkatra Li, Yu Xiang Cretu, Razvan Alban, Keith Suchy, Mieczyslaw Subonj, Viktorian Boggan, Eric

TOP WOMEN

P r e s e n t e d by

Everything for the Table Tennis Player!

Awesome NEW tables available now! TIBHAR 3600 W

Completely Waterproof Indoor/Outdoor table!

TIBHAR Smash 28/SC Super Compact--Fully assembled and ready to play!

TIBHAR Smash 28/R

Used at 2007 World Championships!

PaddlePalace.com

800-547-5891

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 48 50

CA 2660 NY 2644 CA 2616 NJ 2571 TX 2563 NJ 2552 CA 2548 NY 2525 CA 2502 NY 2454 TX 2438 CA 2428 CA 2418 NJ 2416 TX 2410 CA 2388 CA 2366 TX 2362 NJ 2353 TX 2342 VA 2332 NY 2329 MD 2325 IL 2321 TX 2313 IL 2309 MO 2296 WA 2290 TX 2283 CA 2278 CA 2275 CA 2256 IL 2236 NJ 2233 CA 2233 CA 2219 IN 2215 DC 2213 TX 2208 CA 2206 MD 2205 MD 2196 NJ 2184 CT 2183 CA 2180 GA 2179 NY 2173 OR 2167 CA 2165 NJ 2135

Gao, Jun Liu, Juan Zheng, Jiaqi Wu, Yue Wang, Huijing Liu, Nai Hui Hsing, Ariel Ooka, Hiroka Zhang, Lily Wang, XinYue Hazinski, Shu Fu (Sara) Wu, Erica Tian, Maggie Yip, Lily Liu, Wantong Kurimay, Dora Kim, Kyung Ha Lee, Sumi Hugh, Judy Li, Yawei Li, Tao Liu, Guannan Feng, Amy Golic, Biljana Perhoc, Ines Huang, Kang Kang Fukushima, Karin Yao, Hannah Hui, Jingwen Zhong, Yin Vlasic, Brana Chen, Diane Kretschmer, Maria Lin, Tina Yang, Michelle (Min) Jha, Prachi Liu, Yin Song, Xiyao Kil, Jinyoung Shanker, Riti Wang, Heather Wei, Barbara Peng, Ying Pan, Xiaomei Hwang, Ellen Lam, Shermaine Lowe, Trenace Yang, Simone Jiang, Diane Shih, Stephanie

503-777-2266

About Ratings and Rankings

Ratings Questions?

These lists were compiled on 04/27/12 (ages are as of that date) and includes all tournaments processed through that date. Due to space limitations, a maximum of 3200 members are listed -- the list is based upon those who most recently competed in a sanctioned tournament. For a full list of ratings, please visit www.USATT.org. This document may not be reproduced without prior written permission of USA Table Tennis. Copyright 2012.

You can now search for all your results online at www.usatt.org. Should you have any ratings-related questions, contact Andrew Horn, USATT Headquarters, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. To find out your rating if you cannot access our website, send a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your name and the date of your last tournament. You may also contact us at 719-866-3283 or by e-mail at ratings@usatt.org. How are ratings calclulated? http://www.usatt.org/ratings/ratingsprocess.html

Think you’ve been left out by mistake? Email ratings@usatt.org 2012 Indiana State Champ 2012 Millcreek Giant RR LYTTC April Open Greater Hartford April 2012 Vernon Hills Spring Open Maryland Circuit Club JOOLA Spring Open Joseph Newgarden Dogwood 2012 DFWTT Spring Open Hall of Fame Giant RR 2012 Lindenwood April Open Goldern Western Open Trolley Car March Open MCC Spring Open 2012 2012 AL Team Closed Championsh Maryland Closed

New Tournaments Included in Ratings March Westchester Macy Block Open 2012 Green Lake Open GTTTC Family & Friends Texas Wesleyan Open 78th Annual Michigan Closed NJTTC 2012 March Open Robopong March 2012 BTTC ICC California State Open 2012 Butterfly Cary Cup Champi Bill Mason Memorial Open 2012 Missouri Winter Games Top Spin Winter Open 2012 St. Patricks Day Open Maryland Giant RR P&W Aircraft TT Club March

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

48th Robo-Pong St. Joseph Vall 16th FIT Open 3/11/2012 3rd AMDT San Francisco Open Trolley Car TTC March 2012 Middlecreek March RR Open 2012 Nashville Body Conscious Butterfly East Gate Open Serie Maryland Circuit 2012 Northridge Open Arnold Table Tennis Championsh Sacramento Winter Open February Westchester Table Ten 2012 Austin Winter Classic Rou 2012 Rochester New York Open February Open Manor Open 2 Person Team

Florida Orange Blossom Series 2012 Western Open on JOOLA Nor 2012 Think Spring Open Charlotte $1000 Loopalalooza O NJTTC 2012 February Open Pensacola’s “Datangtt.com” Maryland Giant RR Arkansas Closed Butterfly East Gate Open Arizona Open Robopong February 2012 Broward Trolley Car Table Tennis Club US Olympic Trials Joseph Bae Lunar New Year Open 2012 MN State Table Tennis Cha LYTTC Februray Open

OVER 80 MEN OVER 60 WOMEN OVER 30 MEN UNDER 18 GIRLS CA 2548 Hsing, Ariel IL 2746 Lupulesku, Ilija Liu, Charlene CA 1781 Mangeshkar, Vinay MD 2036 CA 2502 Zhang, Lily NJ 2657 Zhuang, David Roufeh, Tahereh MD 1734 Greenberg, Morton TX 1951 CA 2428 Wu, Erica NY 2634 Gao, YanJun CA 1898 Livshin, Bella OH 1699 Myers, Neil NY 2329 Liu, Guannan WA 2626 Fan, Yiyong NJ 1890 Alvarez, Ann IL 1672 Kiss, Zoltan WA 2290 Yao, Hannah MD 2614 Cheng, Yinghua CA 1853 Xianyu, Hui TX 1617 Modlich, Lisa NJ 2233 Lin, Tina CA 2576 Molla, Zaman CA 1837 Suzuki, Chiyako NV 1613 Cantor, Bill CA 2219 Jha, Prachi CA 2554 Reed, Barney MD 1805 Sakai, Donna NC 1597 Shur, Walter DC 2213 Song, Xiyao Butler, Jim VA 1755 Kaminsky, Barbara TX 2551 TX 1580 Horn, Mac CA 2206 Shanker, Riti Piyadasa, Thilina FL 1725 Andrzejewska, Danut CA 2531 CA 1515 Forsberg, Byng CA 2180 Hwang, Ellen NY 2521 Shao, Yu Hu, Shufen KS 1513 Guilfoil, Martin Bill CT 1690 CA 2165 Jiang, Diane CA 2521 Cui, Baoqun FL 1686 Ruggiero, Joan TN 1508 Hua, Paul CA 2133 Guan, Angela NY 2520 Ebuen, Ernesto CA 1633 Sung, Monica CA 1475 Miller, Al NY 2129 Guo, Annie NY 2516 Li, Yu Xiang TX 1617 Modlich, Lisa FL 1436 Spira, Marvin TX 2121 Yang, Judy TX 2515 Cretu, Razvan NM 1563 Glassman, Tammy CA 1399 Wasserman, Si TX 2112 Huang, Laura TX 2512 Subonj, Viktorian MD 1558 Bell, TerriLee NM 1380 Cericola, Fred OVER 75 OVER 50 MEN OVER 30 WOMEN UNDER 16 BOYS UNDER 12 BOYS TX 2522 Feng, Yijun CA 2366 Jha, Kanak CA 2660 Gao, Jun Cheng, Yinghua NY 2075 Braithwaite, George MD 2614 TX 2495 Li, Hangyu NJ 2141 Wang, Jack TX 2563 Wang, Huijing NY 2516 Li, Yu Xiang CA 2056 Chen, Peter CA 2476 Tran, Theodore TX 2129 Li, Jonathan NJ 2416 Yip, Lily Seemiller, Daniel WA 1984 Grossman, Howard IN 2468 TX 2432 Chen, Andrew CA 2124 Liu, Victor CA 2388 Kurimay, Dora NY 2447 Boggan, Scott OK 1908 Pestridge, Ray CA 2420 Kumar, Shivansh OH 2110 Hamrahian, Seyed TX 2362 Lee, Sumi FL 2398 Fleisher, Dickie CA 1901 Mintsiveris, Nick CA 2389 Chodri, Kunal MD 2090 Nie, Derek MD 2325 Feng, Amy Schmidt, Avishy CA 1886 Fahlstrom, Ragnar CA 2368 FL 2371 Ou, Jonathan NJ 2054 Alguetti, Gal IL 2321 Golic, Biljana GA 2352 Xin, Peng WA 1826 Wolfe, Wes MA 2370 Li, Fengguang NJ 2033 Alguetti, Sharon CA 2256 Chen, Diane PA 2313 Seemiller, Randy CA 1818 Wickerd, Gayle CA 2366 Jha, Kanak CA 2011 Huang, Kerry IL 2236 Kretschmer, Maria Liu, Hui Yuan CA 1781 Mangeshkar, Vinay NY 2308 MD 2356 Hsu, Nathan CA 1948 Tong, Howard Liu, Yin CO 2303 Mendez, Francisco IN 2215 MD 1778 Trumbore, Merr TX 2341 Deng, Charles GA 1936 Chen, Brent Kil, Jinyoung VA 2299 Doverman, Richard TX 2208 OH 1773 Brendon, Greg MD 2334 Gong, Tong Tong OH 1920 Bu, Alex MD 2205 Wang, Heather VA 2286 Seemiller, Richard MD 1743 Liu, Su CA 2314 Avvari, Krishnateja CA 1906 Gong, Renny Peng, Ying Asgarali, Nazruddin NJ 2184 MD 1734 Greenberg, Morton MD 2272 CA 2308 Chua, Ethan MN 1903 Tran, Michael CT 2183 Pan, Xiaomei CA 2264 Malek, Attila PA 1731 Walk, Bill CA 2301 Patel, Aashay MN 1894 Huynh, Benjamin Yang, Simone Abraham, Gelawdiw OR 2167 IA 1720 Bozorgzadeh, Housh VA 2255 OVER 70 MEN OVER 50 WOMEN UNDER 22 MEN UNDER 16 GIRLS UNDER 12 GIRLS CA 2502 Zhang, Lily NJ 2103 Wang, Amy GA 2677 Yang, Jian IL 2236 Kretschmer, Maria CA 2151 Tay, Chong CA 2428 Wu, Erica MD 2082 Wang, Crystal CA 2642 Wei, Lai CT 2183 Pan, Xiaomei IN 2124 Hicks, H. NY 2329 Liu, Guannan MD 1877 Ke, Princess NY 2630 Landers, Michael Liu, Charlene FL 2091 Concepcion, Elman MD 2036 NJ 2233 Lin, Tina CA 1814 Deb, Ishana NJ 2605 Liang, Jishan Roufeh, Tahereh NY 2075 Braithwaite, George TX 1951 CA 2219 Jha, Prachi MD 1726 Lu, Amy TX 2597 Li, Cheng Fan, Ling CA 2063 Ukapatayasakul, Bill NC 1951 CA 2206 Shanker, Riti FL 1617 Yang, Grace TX 2593 Yang, Liang CA 1911 Zhu, Min Ming CA 2056 Chen, Peter CA 2165 Jiang, Diane TX 1463 Zhao, Kelly CA 2590 Zhang, Weijian Livshin, Bella WA 1984 Grossman, Howard CA 1898 CA 2133 Guan, Angela GA 1452 Lin, Emilie CA 2590 Liu, Dan NJ 1890 Alvarez, Ann OK 1908 Pestridge, Ray TX 2112 Huang, Laura VA 1399 Lu, Jie TX 2589 Wang, Timothy NJ 1861 Tang, Suyan CA 1901 Mintsiveris, Nick NJ 2103 Wang, Amy VA 1363 Benkovitz, Ingrid Zhang, Di Kotlerman, Yevgeniy CA 2579 CA 1886 Fahlstrom, Ragnar MA 1856 CA 2101 Chu, Isabel CA 1278 Guo, Stephanie CA 2575 Ku, Mu Hsuan CA 1853 Xianyu, Hui CA 1878 Adelman, Mark CA 2098 Cheng, Emmy WA 1278 Li, Jenny MD 2573 Li, Peter CA 1837 Suzuki, Chiyako TX 1867 Roufeh, Jalil CA 2097 Chodri, Aditi TX 1271 Hsieh, Tia TX 2573 Liu, Nan CA 1837 Nguyen, Thuy GA 1866 Zhao, Yansheng MD 2082 Wang, Crystal NC 1250 Li, David NY 2560 Manousoff, Stefan MD 1805 Sakai, Donna NY 1865 Gudzenko, Gary Luo, Michelle NC 1220 Kartawira, Karin NY 2528 Wang, Max Qinmin NJ 2054 TX 1801 Cadavid, Gloria CA 1865 Hong, C.K. Tony OVER 70 WOMEN OVER 40 MEN UNDER 22 WOMEN UNDER 14 BOYS UNDER 10 BOYS CA 2420 Kumar, Shivansh OH 1920 Bu, Alex CA 2548 Hsing, Ariel IL 2746 Lupulesku, Ilija NJ 1890 Alvarez, Ann CA 2389 Chodri, Kunal MN 1903 Tran, Michael CA 2502 Zhang, Lily Zhuang, David FL 1725 Andrzejewska, Danut NJ 2657 MA 2370 Li, Fengguang CA 1869 Gong, Steven NY 2454 Wang, XinYue WA 2626 Fan, Yiyong CT 1690 Hu, Shufen CA 2366 Jha, Kanak VA 1514 Yao, Adam CA 2428 Wu, Erica MD 2614 Cheng, Yinghua CA 1633 Sung, Monica CA 2314 Avvari, Krishnateja CA 1454 Kumar, Nikhil CA 2418 Tian, Maggie TX 2551 Butler, Jim TX 1617 Modlich, Lisa NY 2300 Wang, Alston MA 1410 Cui, David TX 2410 Liu, Wantong CA 2521 Cui, Baoqun NV 1447 Arpon, Joyce CA 2275 Tran, Matthew AZ 1395 Pillas, Lionel VA 2332 Li, Tao NY 2516 Li, Yu Xiang TN 1421 Gove, Ruth OR 2257 Wang, Maoxi George GA 1362 Xu, Leihan NY 2329 Liu, Guannan TX 2512 Subonj, Viktorian CA 1382 Vassallo, Caroline TX 2249 Yang, James Eddie CA 1331 Yung, Timothy MO 2296 Fukushima, Karin NY 2511 Boggan, Eric NJ 1326 Castro, Betty GA 2199 Gong, David TX 1303 Meng, Kevin WA 2290 Yao, Hannah NY 2491 Tran, De CA 1311 Quon, Harriet IN 2171 Chen, Timothy IL 1240 Pardeshi, Akash CA 2275 Vlasic, Brana CA 2480 Nguyen, Khoa CO 1310 Longee, Jinny CA 2155 Cheng, Newman NC 1233 Xiao, Chris NJ 2233 Lin, Tina IN 2468 Seemiller, Daniel MO 1297 Davis, Rosemary NJ 2154 Yu, Kyle TX 1219 Tan, Daniel CA 2219 Jha, Prachi CA 2466 Le, Trung TN 1281 Hua, Ruth NJ 2141 Wang, Jack PA 1215 Chow, Jeremiah DC 2213 Song, Xiyao TX 2458 Oak, Niraj FL 1255 Faria, Essie TX 2129 Li, Jonathan OR 1198 Liu, Raymond CA 2206 Shanker, Riti NY 2447 Boggan, Scott OH 1206 Tressler, JoAnne OVER 60 MEN OVER 40 WOMEN UNDER 18 BOYS UNDER 14 GIRLS UNDER 10 GIRLS NJ 2233 Lin, Tina NJ 2103 Wang, Amy NY 2630 Landers, Michael CA 2660 Gao, Jun GA 2352 Xin, Peng CA 2165 Jiang, Diane TX 1463 Zhao, Kelly TX 2593 Yang, Liang NJ 2416 Yip, Lily OH 2254 Tannehill, John CA 2133 Guan, Angela VA 1399 Lu, Jie TX 2573 Liu, Nan TX 2362 Lee, Sumi FL 2250 Chu, Bin Hai TX 2112 Huang, Laura CA 1278 Guo, Stephanie TX 2522 Feng, Yijun MD 2325 Feng, Amy TX 2222 Hou, Randy NJ 2103 Wang, Amy TX 1271 Hsieh, Tia NY 2519 Wang, Can Kevin Chen, Diane NJ 2221 Shtofmakher, Simon CA 2256 MD 2082 Wang, Crystal TX 1123 Gao, Katie TX 2495 Li, Hangyu IL 2236 Kretschmer, Maria CA 2193 Hejazi, Alireza TX 2004 Li, Joy MA 1051 Zhang, Angela MA 2490 Li, Grant NJ 2184 Peng, Ying MD 2172 Sakai, David WA 1993 Ma, Lucy CA 972 Sung, Rachel CA 2476 Tran, Theodore CT 2183 Pan, Xiaomei MA 2169 Hlava, Jiri NJ 1899 Wang, Ke KS 943 Maruthapandian, Lav MN 2468 Qi, Wei OR 2167 Yang, Simone NY 2158 Mack, Raymond MD 1877 Ke, Princess CA 897 Sung, Jia-Yu TX 2432 Chen, Andrew TX 2106 Lee, Kyoungsuk MD 2152 Duan, Changping PA 1841 Xiao, Claire CA 835 Sung, Joanna CA 2420 Kumar, Shivansh MI 2076 Murakami, Tamaki CA 2151 Tay, Chong CA 1826 Shanker, Srividhya FL 775 Yang, Rachel CA 2418 Tapia, Rodrigo MD 2036 Liu, Charlene MD 2130 Sharifi, Hossein CA 1814 Deb, Ishana WA 606 Lee, Joanna NY 2417 Levinski, Mishel CA 2017 Leitman, Marina CO 2129 McAfee, Richard CA 1807 Tong, Hannah MD 390 Lin, Lisa MA 2389 Zhang, Haepu Roufeh, Tahereh PA 2128 McCoullum, Henry TX 1951 WA 1796 Ali, Reda IL 372 Zhou, Rachel CA 2389 Chodri, Kunal NC 1951 Fan, Ling CA 2125 Loi, Duc

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

RATINGS

NATIONAL RATINGS LIST (In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)

MI IL MI IL FL OK NY NY NY TX CA OK VA OH CA CA MO TX OH OK WA MN IN PA NY NY IN OR NJ TX TN CA AR CO MD NJ FL TN IL IL VA NY NV NV NV CA AL NJ NJ NJ NJ FL WA NY NY FL TX CA FL FL CA CA NJ MI CA NY MO NC NY MI OR MN CA MI NC FN FL NY VA FL OH FL IL AZ NY

1999 1685 1779 1112 1927 1600 1916 1200 1230 1332 1700 2231 1475 1641 2122 1582 1993 2023 1539 1766 1952 1802 543 1200 715 323 1190 2041 1619 1453 1023 1719 955 1040 771 943 805 1103 1388 1537 1909 1004 1603 647 702 1537 1340 2041 1667 2054 2033 1399 1796 1525 1421 1347 2027 747 1367 1479 2464 2403 1890 790 1802 1130 757 2018 870 689 636 795 904 233 1563 421 2181 125 1904 1725 2192 1934 1448 1953 730

Abdelrazzaq, Ali Abdulrasool, Mansoor Ali Abesamis, Teddy Abreu, Jim Abril, Ricardo Ackart, Stephen Ackerman, Akiva Ackerman, Estee Ackerman, Glenn Adams, Orville Adams, Steve Addy, Winfred Ade, Arllen Adengada, Sharath Aebersold, Charles Afshar, Sherwin Agata, Leine Agboke, Sunday Aggarwal, Amber Agimudie, Christopher Aguanta, Roel Aguila, Gaylord Aguilera, Frank Aguire, Nick Agus, Alex Agus, Elan Ahmed, Tauseef Aikey, Tim Aiyer, Anurag Akbari, Norman (Siamak) Akkus, Cem Aks, Paul Al_Muhana, Montadar Alabaugh, John Alabi, Timothy Alapat, Sajan Alarcon, Miguel Alayli, Sammy Albaddi, Muhamed Alberski, Tadevsz Albright, David Wesley Aldave, Russell Alexandrescu, Carmencita Alexandrescu, Cynthia Alexandrescu, Luoana Alexandrov, Albert Alexy, Tom Alguetti, Adar Alguetti, Eyal Alguetti, Gal Alguetti, Sharon Ali, Fiad Ali, Reda Alishahi, Amir Allen, Gregory Allende, Juan Almirol, Carlito Altekar, Sahil Alter, Ron Altman, Ranon Alto, Don Alto, Earl Alvarez, Ann Alzarough, Alshebani Amatya, Pradyumna Ambrose, John Ami, Arnold Amidi, Amir Amoury, Gloria Anand, Arjun Anderson, Austin Anderson, Bruce Anderson, David Anderson, Kent Anderson, Stephen Andersson, Lars-Ake Andreatini, Alessandro Andrew, Rupert Andrian, Jean-Luc Andrzejewska, Danuta Angajala, Girish Angeles, Kyle Annan, Gordon Annest, Brian Ansel, Lucas

FL WV CA AL OH CA CA FL FL TX CA IN CA PA TN FL CA IN CA FL OK OH MD NY MI AL CA NC MI IA NY NC IN TX OH WI FL TX CA CA NY PA MI MI CA IL FL IN IN MO OH MD OH FL TX CA OR CA NC CA NY CA CA TX AZ CA IL IN CA WI NY NJ PA TX NC IN IN NY AZ TX IL OH WV OR CA CT MI AR AR AR FL PA VA FL CA IN CA NY IN TX IL MO NY

1040 504 1597 1832 1511 1203 2083 1771 2035 1359 1522 1546 1574 927 1725 891 1350 1571 2144 2134 968 2125 1722 2272 908 1634 975 1716 1645 1485 1894 789 1088 1713 783 1623 2006 1718 971 2314 2108 1757 2338 1905 1872 341 738 1391 340 716 1702 1685 1758 2046 1668 1068 1019 2426 661 1809 1648 973 75 1700 2625 1677 914 1483 2191 1590 1605 1489 763 902 1248 1477 1888 1571 1623 632 2521 1952 721 1041 1681 893 897 1062 19 2014 862 1226 1501 1788 2051 1447 956 2059 2002 1619 1227 1831 2114 785 1848

Anumulapally, Pranav Anze, Akira Apostol, Von Erick Arabov, Iliyan Arcaro, Ronald Ardisson, Dave Arellano, Ronald Arellano, Santiago Arias, Frank Aristizabal, Jorge Armendariz, Adrian Armentano, Paul Arnett, Eric Arnett, Thomas Arnold, Benjamin Arnold, Ross Aronson, Jason Arratia, Ari Artman, Mark Arun, Sagar Arzola, Fabio Asadallahi, Sina Asare, Francis Asgarali, Nazruddin Ashinoff, Zachary Astillero, Joy Roechelle Atchison, Paul Au, Long Ho Auerbach, Craig Aughenbaugh, Trey Augspurger, Jon Auguste, Edouard Augustine, Patrick Austin, Darrel Austin, Kenneth Averin, Alex Avery, Aaron Avey, Michel Avila, Nicolas Avvari, Krishnateja Awale, Sandesh Aykanat, Aydin Azarsky, Asaf Baber, Michael Vaughn Babiarz, Pawel Baca, Mandy Badalov, Nelly Badway, Anthony Baer, Alexis Baer, Brittany Baez, Alfredo Bafna, Shreyans Bagchi, Ayan Bagi, Attila Baguinon, Gilbert Bai, Carl Bai, William Bai, Zhedi Bailes, Wyatt Bailey, Eric Baird, Will Baker, George Balakrishnan, Rishi Balderama, Jason Ball, Andreas Balmer, Brad Balshem, Efim Bandara, Nilantha Banet, Steven (Pappy) Banh, Dalton Banh, Kevin Tin Banik, Rajesh Bankauskas, Adas Banko, Tom Banks, Jimmy Banks, Tee Bao, Jack Bao, Wentao Baptista, Joseph Barber, Wally Barbosa, Jose Bardo, Rafal Bardo, Rick Barker, Timothy Barnes, Matthew Barnes, Thomas Barnes, William Barnes, Zach Barone, Mia Barone, Scott Barone, Shelby Barrau, Carmel Barrera, Nahomy Barrera, Ramon Barrett, Dan Barrett, Trevor Barrie, Laurene Bartley, Brian Bartley, Lennox Bartley, Wayne Bartling, George Baskota, Susant Bassetti, Federico Batbold, Eja Bateman, Alex

NJ MA MO SD MO MD OR OR GA OH IN CT FL NY CA FL SC VA NY NY IL PA TX NC PA MD CA IL FN NJ TX VA TX IN NJ CA CA CA NJ CA CA WA CA MI IL AL AL AZ NY FL AZ MA MA NY MI TX FL AZ VA MD FL MN IL CA OR OR AZ PA MI MO IL WA IL MD OK IN IN VA NC NY MD IL NY FL KS FL WA CA NV OH CA CA NJ NJ PA OR AR NC AL IN GA NY AL TX CA

1045 2176 2022 1470 539 956 256 1513 2143 1029 1498 1667 1906 2209 2209 1548 2036 1967 1649 1826 582 642 1314 1575 2041 1493 2055 1838 2566 1372 1221 1715 1571 1836 1830 764 678 1654 165 659 264 1031 1948 1636 1508 1728 1657 1293 642 586 1848 2174 2206 204 2160 547 652 1643 1406 583 1710 1597 1560 1768 272 970 1874 1947 1410 1726 1442 1832 554 2058 1859 1838 1806 1843 1887 2075 301 1708 1568 994 1683 1442 517 2347 1468 1947 1189 1584 1382 1696 1570 1108 1366 1131 2147 763 1694 1721 1772 998 1048

Battison, Sean Bavly, Larry Bayarsaikhan, Munkhbold Beach, Alric Bean, Joseph Beaulieu, Alexander Beck, Jenny Bednarz, Ben Beebe, T. J. Beer, Richard Beery, David Behera, Sudhir Bekurti, Elidon Belle, Brad Benedicto, Voltaire Benitez, Patricia Bennett, Jermaine Benson, David Beren, Eric Berg, Mark Berger, Jennifer Berghuis, Alan Bergmann, Grant Berman, Charlie Bernard, Jameson Bernstein, Joseph Bernstein, Sam Berrada, Zaid Berrios, Hector Berry, Davon Berry, Ray Berry, Sam Bertschi, Justin Betts, Steve Bey, Mika Bhachawat, Yash Bhalerao, Laxman Bhartia, Saurabh Bhatia, Viren Bhattacharya, Richa Bhutkar, Aishwarya Bi, Alan Bi, Xi He Bidkar, Sachin Bieniek, Robert Billy, Johnny Bishop, Shannon Blackwell, Michael Blake, Christopher Blass, Juli Block, Adam Bockoven, Chase Bockoven, Connor Boehm, Jacob Boehme, Johannes Bold, Sean Bommineni, Vikas Bonifasi, Rick Booker, Jason Borek, Michael Borges, Jose Borin, James Born, Tyler Bornstein, Josh Borovik, Alex Borovik, Andrey Borrillo, Marco Borshansky, Ilya Bostelaar, Robert Boswell, Dale Botkin, Igor Boudour, Yazel Bowker, Jacob Bowling, Richard Boyce, Kelly Bradley, Carl Bradley, Jon Bragg, Lewis Brain, Simon Braithwaite, George Branch, Michael Brandt, John Braunfeld, Andrea Brauser, Robert Brecheisen, Terry Brenner, Bard Bresolin, Gino Breton, Arthur Breunig, Thomas Brewster, Keith Brigitt, Andrew Brigitt, Eugene Brissett, Luz Brito, Ricardo Brockington, Marc Brody, Jay Brooks, Charles Brooks, Gloria Brown, Adam Brown, Larry Brown, Luke Brown, Michael Brown, Sean Browning, Jacob Bruckel, Jane

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ May/Jun 2012

IN OH 1366 Brumfield, Jacob CA OH 1087 Brumfield, Tyler CA IN 1994 Brzycki, Brian NY OH 1920 Bu, Alex CA NC 988 Bua, Jeanne CA MI 1672 Bublitz, Gary CA MI 1114 Buchanan, Crystal NY FL 1715 Budenstein, David IN CA 1788 Budhavarapu, CA Sasanka(Shanks) CA TX 1726 Budiman, Danya AZ OK 1703 Buell, Larry CA IL 1918 Buente, Kevin PA CA 1836 Bui, Brian NJ NC 1853 Bui, Phong Quang NJ WA 1033 Bui, Phuong FL MN 1668 Bui, Quang NY CA 1069 Bulkin, Mikhail CA CA 1421 Bunker, Stephen CA CA 1593 Bunya, Peter NY CA 1057 Bunyi, Mark NJ NJ 1184 Burigo, William CO WA 1046 Burke, Bennett CA NC 869 Burns, Daniel WA PA 813 Burnside, Nat CA CA 1739 Burris, Theo OH OH 1374 Bussey, David NY TX 2551 Butler, Jim ON NC 2287 Butler, Scott NY WV 1711 Butts, Mike OR CA 1098 Byeon, Gilbert (Gir) IN NY 1007 Byrne, Terry TX OH 1368 Cabay, Josh TX WA 1112 Caffee, Chris NJ NV 2245 Caglar, Mert Bahadir CA FN 2103 Cai, Meijun FL PA 1998 Cai, Wei CA MS 2350 Cai, Yuliang CA NE 1815 Caines, Devon OH OR 262 Calora, Jose Martynov CA NJ 1496 Camacho, Oscar TX NJ 1212 Camarda, Bill NJ NJ 1143 Camarda, Matthew OH AR 745 Camp, Dennis CA IL 1533 Campbell, Antonio NC NV 1619 Canceran, Eduardo NY FL 1511 Canepa, Felipe NJ CA 1008 Canine, James AZ MO 2308 Cantarelli, Fred GA MN 2045 Cao, Trac CA TX 755 Cao, Zhengyue IL NY 1604 Caplin, Glenn FL FL 1742 Caplin, Stuart MN FL 1154 Capo, Enrico GA FL 1132 Cariglio, Joseph NC FL 1267 Cariglio, Michael CA LA 1840 Carlisle, Billy CA MI 1164 Carmean, Rick CA NY 1880 Carney, Wayne NC CA 1607 Carrasco, Ricardo CA NY 370 Carr-Engler, Archer NJ IN 1539 Carrillo, Jose Arturo WI MI 1816 Carter, Barry AZ NC 2113 Carter, Colton NY AL 1657 Cashwell, David MI IL 833 Casstevens, Rex MS CT 959 Castiglione, Stephen IN OR 1882 Castle, Roger OR CT 1505 Cedro, Chris DC TX 593 Cereceres, Alejandro CA TX 1114 Cereceres, Rafael MI OH 1977 Cevik, Burak CA MI 897 Cha, Kwan Joon CA NY 1046 Chafetz, Harry GA TX 795 Chai, Andrew NY FL 1766 Chaille, Thomas NC 1520 Chakraborty, Brahmananda NC NY CA 409 Chambers, David CA AR 783 Chambers, William WA NJ 558 Chan, Alan TX OR 1808 Chan, Arthur IL FL 597 Chan, Brandon MD PA 2201 Chan, Calvin MD FL 2018 Chan, Chi-Kin MI CA 1334 Chan, Frank NY CA 681 Chan, Iris NY CA 1074 Chan, Jason WA AL 1814 Chan, Kin TX CA 1802 Chan, Kit CA AL 1564 Chan, Kong CA CA 916 Chan, Long-Hin TN CA 1674 Chan, Ricky CA CA 106 Chan, Sara CO AL 1718 Chan, Trevor FL AL 1648 Chan, Tson NJ CA 1916 Chan, Wesley CA MA 1547 Chan, William NJ AL 1867 Chan, Wing CA 247 Chandrashekaran, Shreyas FL NJ AZ 1310 Chang, Chung-Fu NY CA 1753 Chang, Crispin TX IN 1624 Chang, Darren CA CA 2130 Chang, Fernando CA NJ 1203 Chang, Hong GA NY 746 Chang, Hsiao Ying

1777 1987 1293 1896 1320 1985 994 1445 1637 1752 1232 1216 593 1091 483 1824 1088 1696 1362 698 1978 854 1714 2256 1430 631 905 1828 2639 1439 2038 2062 1865 1666 801 243 1416 1791 2056 2239 1592 1069 2138 662 1453 322 1577 841 1910 1607 1904 1303 747 1689 2450 1604 2098 1997 1572 1362 2155 872 1145 1407 1566 1363 1688 799 2157 912 448 1611 1979 493 1709 1650 1446 1887 1907 1389 1849 2014 528 988 739 359 136 1411 1981 394 906 1430 1260 1429 2250 1129 2042 1881 1988 1612 461 1794 2308 1834 665

Chang, Hung-Chih Michael Chang, Matthew Chang, Michael Chang, Ming-Hong Chang, Mingjia Chang, Shawn Chang, Steven Chang, Ta-Min Chang, Vincent Chang, William Chao, Isaac Chaoyang, Tong Chappelle, Tamara Chasen, Lee Chee, Ethan Cheeran, Santosh Chelico, Garrett Chen, Abraham Chen, Alan Chen, Arthur Chen, Arvis Chen, Bin Chen, Dean Chen, Diane Chen, Eric Chen, Evan Chen, George Chen, Harry Chen, Hongtao Chen Chen, Jenny Chen, Jia Feng (Jason) Chen, Jian Chen, Judy Chen, Justin Chen, Katy Chen, Kevin Chen, Michael Chen, Michael Chen, Peter Chen, Po Hsu Chen, Poyu(Henry) Chen, Preston Chen, Qiming Chen, Raymond Chen, Ryan Chen, Ryan Chen, Sihai Chen, Timmy Chen, Veronica Chen, Victor. Chen, Wei Chen, Wilson Chen, Yen Chen, Yilin Chen, Zihao Cheng, Andrew Cheng, Emmy Cheng, Kelvin Cheng, Kevin Cheng, Ming Cheng, Newman Cheng, Poley Cheng, Ting-Chung Cheung, Anthony Cheung, Gary Cheung, Geoff Cheung, Michael Latyan Chhatiawala, Harin Chia, Brian Chia, Ken Chia, Zer Chiang, Ason Cy Chiang, Peter Chiang, Samuel Chiem, Jim Chieu, Albert Chilukuri, Anil Kumar Chin, Wayne Ming Ching, Joe Chinn, Larry Chirmule, Shardul Cho, Chang-Hyon Cho, Ig-Jun Cho, Sam Choi, Shinik Chong, Jeeho Chong, Sungho Chou, Bertha Chow, Brandon Chow, Ernest Choy, Kendall Chrestman, Christopher Christensen, Fumi Christofolo, Peter Chu, Bin Hai Chu, Darren Chu, David Chu, Jonathan Chu, Khai Chu, Stephen Chu, Theresa Chu, Zhihan Chua, Ethan Chua, Gerry Chua, Sabrina

GA NJ CA NJ OR CA NY WA FL NY FL TX MD NY PA MD CA AZ AZ IN IN MI MI IN CA MD CA AZ TN IL AR MI CA OR NC AZ NC VA TX GA IN CA NJ FL OK CT NY CA CT OH PA CT FN PA PA IN IN TX OR MI MI NY FL TX MO CA MA MD IL MI MI MN CA NC IN OR AZ NY WA AL CT FL NY MD MD CA IN FL CA MD FL MI AL CA CA CA IL TX IL NY CA MI NJ IA AL

1360 2106 897 254 1985 1689 1065 1850 1342 934 2314 1922 858 2193 1675 1768 1327 1111 966 1868 2216 1909 2246 2362 1194 1181 1586 1131 1480 942 1228 534 554 226 1408 2029 1861 1904 1621 1715 1325 668 155 1484 1263 1202 905 732 601 1419 2297 1339 1717 1754 1162 1125 1787 2515 1249 490 844 2307 1481 981 975 2521 1410 1552 1237 1451 731 2305 1222 1403 1217 938 1833 1101 1496 1730 329 1345 1611 1228 505 810 1326 891 2010 970 1485 1684 1268 1285 883 1923 1479 1104 1684 2108 974 958 1578 1618 1832

Chua, Sean Chui, Lim Ming Chung, Chen-hua Chung, Daniel Chung, David Chung, Peter Chung, Saskeia Chung, Tommy Chuong, Kim Pha Cicchinelli, Matt Ciz, Richard Claflin, Steven Claggett, Evan Clang, John Claraval, Rick Clarke, Michael Claude, Lou Clavijo, Deborah Clavijo, Sergio Clyde, David Clyde, Stephen Cobb, Dennis Cobb, Dennis Cochran, Joseph Cohen, Brian Cohen, Daniel Cole, Dan Coleman, Bret Collins, Charles Collins, Drew Collins, Fred Collins, Michael Collins, Patrick Collins, Tyler Combs, David Cone, Derrick Connelly, Tim Constantin, Costel Cook, Grayden Cook, Joshua Coons, Bill Copeland, Mark Corona, Sunny Corrado, Robert Correa, David Cortesi, Tony Cosby, Gregory Cosentino, Placido Costello, Ian Cottrell, Blake Coulter, Chip Couzens, Daniel Cowan, Chris Cox, Robert Crawley, Bruce Creel, Claude Creel, David Cretu, Razvan Criddle, Daniel Crockett, Sarina Crockett, Sean Croitoroo, Mark Crosby, Reginald Crouch, William Cui, Amy Cui, Baoqun Cui, David Cui, Lisa Cumby, Chad Cummings, Robert Cummins, Tom Curran, Nathaniel Currier, Thomas Cutbill, Sidney Czarnecki, Scott Da, Leezan Dabestani, Awtrin Dadoyan, Daniel Dai, Terrence Dailey, Tommie Daley, Kalonji Dam, Veronica Dammar, Chad Dancis, Barry Dancis, Elaine Dang, An Dani, Deepesh Danielson, Lee Danner, Carl Dapeprt, James Darley, David Darling, Samuel Darman, Brian Dart, John Darukhanawalla, Malcolm Darukhanawalla, Nash Das, Anirban Das, Jayanta Kumar Dash, Enkhbayar Dassonval, Philippe Daugherty, Matt Dault, Joe David, Ajay David, Robert Davis, Andrew

SC CA MI NY AK GA TX FL MI CA TX OH TX FL CA OR PA PA PA CA MI CT FL FL AR MO NY NY CA NY IA AZ CT NH TN NY CA TN NC NE TN TN OH PA WA WA CA TX CO AR OH MI FL MO TX FL OH IL TX WV FL MI MO TX MI PA IL IL VA MO NY TX MO SC CO NY IL IL SC OH CA IL OH CA FL NV SC NC MI MI MN TX CA TX VA CT IN NY NC MI CT MN IN IN OR CO OR AZ IL CA NY MN WA AL CT

1551 1922 1797 1600 1603 2266 748 2103 1214 1814 693 1033 1504 2065 985 917 670 792 1511 2050 1049 691 1697 2243 62 1022 943 886 1115 1084 1611 1651 2234 1999 1147 1056 1492 859 939 1780 1691 1826 1783 1120 1854 2333 1693 1289 1788 833 1728 1991 1126 1495 929 1339 964 836 1214 1777 2051 835 2196 1948 1115 2141 1865 875 2299 1725 2007 1995 1234 1740 1758 874 1883 1341 2077 871 1479 1226 2419 1715 1192 1670 893 1583 1863 1286 1849 1470 1870 1733 1522 1407 1506 2520 1518 209 1749 2408 1753 980 1217 1800 1790 1575 2126 1290 1356 1893 1406 1214 1736

Davis, Bennie Dawalbhakta, Samiha Dawson, Jim De Los Santos, Diogenes De May, David De Souza, Kwaovi Didi deAlcuaz, William Dean, Lon Dean, Michael Deb, Ishana DeBell, Joe Decristofaro, John Dellandrea, Matt Delzo, Marisol Demartini, Cliff Deng, Alvin Denish, Jordan Denish, Paul Denysenko, Nadya Desai, Arjun Desai, Deepesh Desai, Kush Desai, Phil Desai, Vinay Deshpande, Riya Devecigil, Demir DeVenezia, Richard Devi, Aparna Devine, Nils Dewdney, Frederick Dewey, Justin Dewitt, Mark DeWitt, Richard Dharmarajan, Vignesh Dhushyanth, Venka Diamond, Jeromie Diaz, Danny Diaz, Mariana Dib, Ghassan Dickey, Gordon Dickson, Roger Dickson, Shelton Dietz, Roy Dillon, Matthew DiMarco, Gregory Ding, Billy Ding, Feng Ding, Sam Disch, Christopher (Judd) Disterdick, Chris Divekar, Krish Dixon, James Djuric, Vladimir Doan, Basil Doan, Hong Doelman, John Doenges, Kevin Dohadwala, Taher Doherty, Brian Domakhin, Alexey Dombey, Adrian Donohue, Aidan Dookram, Yuvraaj Dorn, Jon Douglas, Daniel Douglas, Lennox Dousmanis, Christos Dousmanis, George Doverman, Richard Doza, Rich Drabkina, Olga Drake, Kyle Drake, Wenyan Dreyfus, Stephen Driggs, Ogden Driscoll, Olga Driskill, Ryan Drissen, John Drolet, Joey Drsek, John Du, Yufeng(Kevin) Dubilirer, Leon Dubina, Samson Duenas, Ivan Duffy, William Duhaylurgsod, Mark Dukes, Jeffrey Dulin, Philip Dulkin, Danny Dunlap, Fred Duong, Duy Duong, William Duong-Ha, Lieu (Mary) Dy, Edison Dy, Manuel Dyson, Jon Eaves, Jack Ebuen, Ernesto Efremoff, Ted Ehrmanntraut, Wolfgang Eichner, Howard Eider, Cory Eiler, Brandon Eiler, Mark Eiles, Mark Eiles, Tim Eiles, Travis Ekbundit, Patrick Ekiert, Piotr Ekmekjian, Vahe Ellenberg, Adam Elliott, David Elliott, Ian Ellis, Colen Ellis, Dave

NY MO TX KS IL WV WV WV NY OH CA IN SC NC OH FL NJ NJ NJ NJ CA FN FL NV IL AZ OK KY KY AR AR NY IN NC NC WA OR CA NJ MO CA TX FL IL AL CT TX IL FL NY OH CA NC FL IL RI OH PA AR WA CT OH OH CO TX NC PA IL CA NJ NJ NJ TN WA MA NY FL FL AL MO CA CA CA TX NJ NJ IN CA FL FL MI FL TN MI FL NY IL MO MD MD MN WA WA NY NJ ON CA CA CA TX CA MA CA NV CA

491 1714 1604 1612 1555 428 2017 1574 1383 950 1664 1490 1691 1381 956 1412 623 1006 1130 505 1575 1706 2054 1333 876 1265 1845 1885 1677 884 1573 1796 967 1596 1951 2626 1430 1843 1710 873 636 1346 1998 1740 1730 1889 2522 1416 1187 2441 706 2064 1846 814 378 1462 1495 1398 868 1201 983 317 553 1444 1883 1578 834 1059 1729 877 1782 1661 2003 1547 1921 1191 1691 1657 1159 1243 1088 1416 709 1680 260 1352 1757 1424 1776 2221 1907 1422 1641 1663 1562 987 2151 2147 1356 1559 535 1139 1471 1157 1527 1722 559 799 1501 2428 1559 1579 1551 1661 1195

Ellis, Richard Elmallah, Fady Elston, Meredith Ely, Cole Embalabala, James Emmons, Noah Emmons, Stephen A. Emmons, Theron Roy Emord, Dan Endo, Sumie Eng, David Engel, PJ England, David Englebreth, Bill Eppley, Carl Erdos, Tamas Erichson, Daniel Erichson, Howard Erichson, Jacob Erichson, Sara Escobar, Wilfredo Espinosa, David Estrada, Carlos Estrella, Alfred Evangelista, Camilo Evans, David Ezzat-Ahmadi, Hamid Fakharpour, Babak Fakharpour, Peyton Falco, Alexander Falco, John Falk, Clifford Fallon, Michael Faminiba, Sam Fan, Ling Fan, Yiyong Fan, Yun Fang, Haolin Farkas, Brian Farley, Curt Farquhar, Ian Fatemi, Nic Federico, Steve Feerst, David Feldman, Danny Feltenberger, Donald Feng, Yijun Feng, Ying Fernander, Shameka Fernandez, David Fernandez, Oscar Figueroa, Alexander Filz, Raymond Finch, Bill Fink, Joey Finney, Emma Fish, Albert Fisher, Glenn Fisher, Steve Fitch, Tommie Fitzsimmons, Jack Flanagan, Tracy Fleeman, Richard Fleming, Mark Fleshman, Tom Flohr, Christian Flor, Nicholas Flora, Charanpreet Flores, Aris Flores, Jake Flores, Max Flores, Rick Flowers, Donny Flyberg, Rodney Fomin, Dmitri Fomina, Alexandra Fondas, Evangelos Fondas, Mark Fong, Celeste Fong, Joseph Fong, Roger Fong, Scott Fong, Shawn Fontaine, Pam Foo, Alysha Foo, Edwin Forks, Ron Fornoles, Roberto Forster, Michael Forte, Henry Fortney, Dave Foster, Ed Foulds, Jonathan Fowler, Brian Francisco, Ramon Paolo Francois, Claude Franeczek, Janusz Frank, Kris Frantz, Derek Frantz, Robert Frazzini, Bobby Fredrickson, Harold Fredrickson, John C. Freeman, David French, Brandon French, Dave Friedman, Andrew Friedman, Mike Friedman, Oliver Friend, Chance Frisbee, Stanley Frisoli, Paul Frye, Scott Fu, Billy Fu, Zheng

MO OH CA AL CA NY NM TX MD NC OH NY NC NY CA CA MI MI CA MD MA CA CA TX NY NJ OH NY TX CA FL TX IL MI TX OH CT CA CO FL NY NY NY AZ CA NY NY WA WA WV TX MI MI IN CA TX TN AZ FL TN CA FL FL FL FL CA CA NC OH WV NY OR NY TX NC CA CA CA AL AL OH OH OH FL CA CA CA TX NY NY TX VA CA CA NM NY CA TN TN CA NY NY CA FL IN PA MO MO NY NY NC MD CA CT GA

2296 1442 556 1329 1556 1292 1297 1822 1684 1520 1939 2228 1333 1340 546 679 530 299 1778 1216 2129 1860 2660 1123 1351 1724 984 2634 1556 1527 939 1913 1692 584 982 1152 1344 1713 1158 1107 1865 789 417 1857 1247 1504 648 520 506 1246 830 1324 228 345 1670 1185 1603 1621 1551 793 1827 1174 1496 1703 1202 315 1715 1710 1573 1478 1126 1660 1562 2457 1917 1906 1869 962 2041 1378 1330 359 1539 417 2017 2165 479 1717 1250 1505 1320 1323 1862 720 1470 2356 1601 865 1421 830 1551 864 1861 1456 1408 1706 1063 1690 2018 1794 1562 1734 1878 940 1779

Fukushima, Karin Fullen, Dave Fuller, Margaret Fullerton, Collin Fung, Kai Fung-a-fat, Jill Funkhouser, Bob Furgason, Patrick Furtado, Philip Gabriel, Tom Gacki, Slawomir Gaenger, Tim Gajjar, Pradeep Gamm, Brian Gampa, Siddharth Gan, Nin Ganapathy, Karthik Ganapathy, Varun Ganguly, Debraj Ganzermiller, Ronald Gao, Brian Gao, Felix Gao, Jun Gao, Katie Gao, Ryan Gao, Sean Gao, William Gao, YanJun Garces, Pedro Garcia, Gil Garcia, Gustavo Gardner, Brandon Garg, Shshank Garg, Vedaant Garner, Stephen Garnier, Sue Garosshen, Tom Garratt, Nicholas Garrison, Jim Gataullin, Valeriy Gautham, Ram Gautier, Alec Gautier, Jon Geete, Jayant Geller, Alan Gennuso, Greg George, Jerone Gero, Alan Gero, Stephanie Ghobryal, Mena Gibson, Donnie Giggey, Robert Gigli, Dominic Gigli, Jim Gilbert, Kim Ginther, Dean Girdner, David Girton, Ken Glass, Ray Glasscock, Michael Gleicher, Mark Gmach, Ben Gmach, David Gmach, Gal Gmach, Maili Godhwani, Aaditya Godhwani, Anil Godin, Yuri Godwin, Gary Goff, Dale Goldfarb, Roman Goldsmith, Phil Goldstein, Andrew Gombos, Ludovic Gomez, Elias Gong, Renny Gong, Steven Gonzales, Kenneth Gonzalez, Barnabas Gonzalez, Jonathan Good, Kevin Goodchild, Dustin Goodchild, Zack Gooden, Herrick Goodwin, Daniel Gopal, Pranav Gopalan, Rishi Kumas Gopin, Michael Gordon, Adam Gordon, Andrew Gordon, Russell Gordon, Scott Gordon, Scott Gorel, Morton Goring, Kali Gotlib, Slava Gove, David Gove, Norwood Gove, Ruth Govindaraju, Pranav Graber, Jared Grace, Chris Graff, William Graham, Donovan Grambo, Alan Grandalski, Joe Gray, Adam Gray, Rick Green, Daniel Green, Ryan Green, Vincent Greenberg, Morton Greene, Travis Greenfield, Austin Gresham-Geiger, Brandon

IL NC NY CA NJ OK FL PA FN CA MO PA NY CA CA CA CA CA PA UT NY AZ NC KS CA TX CA CA OR WA NJ WA TN AR CA OK NY NJ NY NJ WA NY OH AR GA WA NY MI NY MO IN OH OH MD MI AR OK OH MD FL TX AL MI MI MI OH TN OH CA OH MN MI IL FL CA TN FL MD MD OH FL IL CO AL MN OH NY CA NJ MO AR IN CA CA NY MI CA MA FL NY TX NY MD OH MI VA NY TX TX AR NY AL CA CA CA

1112 1334 1940 763 1286 742 1270 795 2455 1905 1706 871 1911 2133 953 1974 2018 1640 1653 2122 1865 1384 1213 1513 1784 1796 1576 524 1645 1599 1671 1767 1724 51 1826 1131 1461 1868 1578 1109 1293 1360 1449 1668 2123 1327 1727 937 604 1685 817 1112 1451 1771 1198 1789 1422 2213 1321 306 2295 1886 927 612 582 2110 2076 978 1833 1413 1646 954 1821 1968 450 1620 420 671 469 207 1625 1896 1883 1679 1709 1811 1385 867 1090 1434 744 1728 1863 2047 1996 1245 279 369 1890 1875 1316 1498 1593 1831 1629 1307 1055 2610 2438 1502 1717 1613 1543 242 1619

Gribinski, Nathalie Griffing, John Gristede, George Grodsky, Gilbert Grosso, Timothy Grusendorf Jr., Glen Gu, Maxwell Gu, TongDa(Tony) Gu, Wenjing Gu, Willa Tammy Gu, Willie Gu, Yan Gu, Yi Guan, Angela Guan, Betty Guan, Walter Guan, YanBo Gubbi, Vidyadhara Guberman, Sergey Gubler, Ryan Gudzenko, Gary Guerin, Bill Gui, Min Guilfoil, Martin Bill Guillory, Ralph Guima, Alex Gunawan, Hardy Guo, Chengzi Guo, Jian Xin Guo, Jimmy Guo, Qi Guo, Xiaocong Peter Guo, Xiaofeng Gupta, Megha Guslandi, Luigi Gustafson, Jay Gutierrez, Gustavo Gutman, Harvey Gutowski, Raymond Guttman, Daniel Guzman, Pablo Haddad, Michael Hadden, Ben Hadfield, Paul Hadsell, Michael Hagel, Cody Haidvogel, Roger Paul Hains, Nicholas Halberstan, Fay Halbig, Fred Hall, Bob Hall, E. Jamal Hall, Everett Hall, Lowell Hall, Rick Hall, William Hamby, Mike Hamilton, Don Hamilton, Elliott Hamilton, John Hamilton, Russ Hamilton, Terry Hammond, Dan Hammond, Jacob Hammond, Michael Hamrahian, Seyed Handoko, Liedy Hanlin, William Hanna, John Hannah, Kevin Hansen, Lloyd Hao, Kevin Harasimowicz, Marian Harbeck, Gary Harber, Chad Hardin, Christopher Harduvel, Karina Harley, Douglas Harley, Taliesin Harris, Anwen Harris, Brett Harris, Bruce Harris, Joshua Harris, Michael Harris, Rex Harris, Scott Harry, Dinesh Harsolia, Arif Hart, Brian Harte, Dave Hartmann, Joyce Hash, Timmy Hashemi, Ross Hashimoto, Masaru Hashizume, Sho Hatzis, Louis Haug, Jason Hausman, Clinton Hautsch, Fred Hawk, Harry Hawk, Phillip Hawkins, David Hawkins, Joseph Hawkins, Larry Hayden, Donald Haynes, Michael Hazan, Ehud Hazinski, Mark Hazinski, Shu Fu (Sara) He, Feng He, Hai He, Harry He, Robert He, William He, Zesheng

CO OH IN IN MI IN NY FL MO CA PA FL CA NC CA CA NY IN IN FL OH NY MA WV PA PA NY TN AR MI NY NY NC TX AZ NY OR AL IL ON SC TX OH WA OR MD NV NV IL NC NY MI AR TX CA IL TX FL RI CA CA CA IL IL NJ MI CA CA WA WA IN NY TX MD CA MD MD OR NY MA NY AZ NJ TX CA NJ

981 556 1161 766 1536 967 2251 967 1703 636 1347 1575 243 1948 65 1755 1648 2124 1945 1453 647 1025 1571 1424 955 1298 1539 1194 682 2053 1482 792 1869 1818 1488 1892 2080 1769 851 1342 1683 1699 1059 1208 1969 1983 781 865 1581 1742 1519 647 1357 1523 1865 895 1016 1245 1998 527 148 171 1932 1808 1327 1113 1558 964 1080 1641 1146 1711 1271 2209 2548 2226 2356 1852 1563 2156 1443 2260 1628 650 1731 72

Heideman, Bernard Heisler, Adam Heitz, Robert Heitz, Tom Helfand, Joseph Hendrie, Hugh C. Henry, Michael Henry, Ray Henry, Sonjay Henry, Stephen Heo, Richard Hernandez, Sean Herold, Hugh Herr, Al Herrera, Augustin Hershey, Robert Herzan, Paul Hicks, H. Hicks, Rick Higgins, Stewart Hildenbrand, Leurene IL Hill, David MI Hill, James CA Hill, Seth OR Hine, Ethan CA Hine, Josiah CA Hines, Elliot OH Hines, William CA Hinman, Justin CA Hinshaw, Donald AL Hirata, Jonathan NJ Hirsch, Tobias CA Hitchner, Steven CA Hjorth, Simon NC Hlushko, Gregory MD Ho, Anna Ka Po CA Ho, Hung NJ Ho, Hung Mike NJ Ho, Shou Jie TX Ho, Wing CA Hoagland, Tim NY Hoang, Duynh CA Hoang, Minh IL Hoang, Tammy CA Hoarfrost, Ryan MN Hochman, Stephen AL Hodapp, Heath CA Hodapp, Matthew CA Hoffman, Mark IN Hohn, Chad NY Holck, Bruce NY Holder, Robert FL Holland, Terrence CO Holmes, Paul NY Hong, C.K. Tony CO Hong, Ryan CA Hong, Sahun Sam VA Hooker, Allan IL Hopkins, Steve PA Horn, Michael NC Horn, Nick OH Horn, Rikki AR Horodenski, Karol IL Horodyskyi, Anatoliy NY Horostegui, George CA Horton, Dennis OH Horvath, Alex WA Hou, David IL Hovde, Blake IN Hrebeniuk, Adam OH Hreso, Dennis MN Hrishin, Andriy IL Hsieh, Tia IL Hsin, Jeffrey PA Hsing, Ariel CA Hsu, John TN Hsu, Nathan IN Hsu, Ryan CA Htet, San NY Hu, Henry AR Hu, Mark NC Hu, Xiaozhou NC Hu, Xiyue FL Huang, Brian CA Huang, Chia-Sheng (Jason) TN Huang, Chuipong

Rating Difference

2135 1534 2489 323 1988 2011 1485 866 349 1782 913 1935 1726 1496 1883 2310 2573 2353 2283 1568 136 1695 787 1771 1894 1105 1496 2402 836 1000 376 2035 2016 1781 1689 1368 1841 1968 2202 2025 2246 1779 1378 1420 1670 2001 2145 1953 1549 863 2036 1848 1831 1924 1801 1335 1339 2270 874 1596 1401 2043 1161 1450 1119

Huang, Haibin Huang, Jack Huang, Jeff Huang, Jeffry Huang, Johnny Huang, Kerry Huang, Lisa Huang, Nelson Huang, Peter Huang, Ping Huang, Ray Huang, Stanley Huang, Vincent Huang, Xiang Huang, Xinsheng Michael Huang, Zihao (Justin) Hugh, Adam Hugh, Judy Hui, Jingwen Hung, Ling Steven Hunter, Jakob Huo, Luvena Hurlburt, Alex Hutchins-Knowles, Brian Huynh, Benjamin Huynh, Kevin Huynh, Tri Hyatt, Michael Hyde, Eric Hyman, Kevin Hyman, Lucas Ibanez, Ernesto Ibegbu, Basil Ikeda, Noriyasu Imanzhanov, Arman Immaneni, Pramod Inger, Mike Inui, Tadao (Tom) Iodkovskiy, Vladimir Ip, Spencer Ip, Tak Cheong Ishaq, Mohammad Ishii, Minori Israelov, Alexander Ito, Jeffrey Itunin, Aleksandr Iturriaga, Bernardo Iurchuk, Igor Ivaldi, Italo Iyer, Pranav Iyer, Venkateshwaran Jablonski, Tomasz Jablonski, Zmigniew Jackson, Charles Jackson, Jace Jackson, Luke Jackson, Nick Jafar, Shuja Jahnke, Bill Jambhekar, Kedar James, Scott James, William(Billy) Jameson, Mike Janes, Jack Jasitt, Ian

USATT Rating Chart Higher rated Lower rated player wins: player wins: Higher Lower Lower Higher player player player player gains: loses: gains: loses:

0-12 13-37 38-62 63-87 88-112 113-137 138-162 163-187 188-212 213-237 238 & up

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 2 1 1 0

8 10 13 16 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

RATINGS

TX 1536 CA 1170 CA 1088 CO 1659 FL 2277 WA 1114 NV 715 NY 1889 CA 1355 CA 2219 MA 478 MA 311 MI 1392 NC 2103 CA 2165 PA 1677 CA 1150 TX 1678 GA 2301 TX 1652 OK 1770 PA 948 CA 815 VA 1955 NY 1321 NY 1469 IL 1599 CA 1693 CT 1229 PA 1777 SC 1920 MO 2022 FL 1920 OH 1705 GA 1340 NY 1426 FL 1952 TN 1609 FL 1596 NY 2042 CA 1429 AZ 747 MN 1415 WA 1548 MN 1594 CA 1625 CA 227 NY 2071 FL 1727 NY 2073 WA 1808 CA 1100 CA 1911 WA 1883 NY 1434 NY 369 NJ 1909 NJ 1876 VA 1755 LA 1176 FL 1772 AZ 1364 NJ 1941 PA 1844 NY 1953 MD 1068 CA 1715 CA 635 TX 1549 CA 473 VA 1912 NY 1460 IL 1672 CA 1160 AZ 1439 GA 1594 CA 1416 NC 1357 NC 1220 MI 807 CA 1913 AZ 1372 CA 2555 TN 1641 Kumar TX 1167 IL 1623 CA 701 CA 206 VA 1633 VA 1400 NC 1367 NJ 687 AL 1970 IL 1371

MD MD MI VA SC NY IL IN OH CA FL AZ NJ NY IN CA IL IL OH OH WI Jauda, Samir OH Javaherian, Nasrin CA Javdan, Behdad FL Jaynes, Michael FL Jeerapaet, Kit FL Jeffcoat, Pamela IL Jenkins, Rick CA Jeong, Tae Jong NY Jha, Ashish TX Jha, Prachi VA Ji, Eli NJ Ji, Nathan NY Ji, Xinye WA Jia, Zhen MD Jiang, Diane NJ Jiang, Dong IL Jiang, Tong NY Jimenez, Chae Sun NV Jin, Ethan IL Jing, Qiguo AL Johansson, Mats NY Johns, Dana IL Johnson, Ben CO Johnson, Cory IL Johnson, Eric PA Johnson, Jennifer OR Johnson, Jim CT Johnson, Mark NY Johnson, Mark IA Johnson, Michael WV Johnson, Richard NC Johnston, Jeff MN Johnston, L. A. MI Johnston, Raymond FL Johnston, Zachary MI Jones, Geoff IN Jones, Randolph CT Jordan, Archie CT Jordan, J.J. GA Jordan, Rondell TX Joseph, Sammy NY Joseph, Zoucha OH Joshi, Sandhya NJ Joshi, Vishal NY Judd, David CA Junso, David MO Kache, Anurag GA Kaddoura, Fadi CA Kadin, Rick TN Kadzinski, Jean Philippe PA Kahr, Andre PA Kailasam, Srikanth IN Kaiser, Tod NY Kakade, Manish NC Kalir, Oded NY Kalkar, Sanjiv CA Kam, Davis CA Kam, Vincent CA Kaminsky, Barbara CA Kamsuwan, Pla TX Kanani, Jean Marie FL Kanchanapelly, Radhakrush CT Kandell, Scott CA Kane, Alex OH Kang, GyuSuck NC Kang, James TX Kant, David PA Kanyavong, Sichan NY Kapadia, Jay KY Kaplan, Dave MI Kapsalakis, Dean MN Kapur, Ashwin NY Karabelas, Paul MD Karchemsky, Rusty CA Karlsson, Bo NY Karp, John CA Karshtedt, Yelena CA Kartawira, Chris KY Kartawira, Karin IL Karve, Sharang CA Kaseb, Fovad IL Kashauajjala, Srikanth PA Kashyap, Anal NY Kasichayanula, Kiran CO CA Kasmani, Faraz MN Kasperski, Grzegorz IN Katz-Brown, Jason IL Kauffman, Ben MD Kauffman, Jeffrey CA Kauffman, Jeremy NY Kauffman, Ronald CA Kaufman, Nathaniel NJ Kawamoto, Ernesto Ryuki NJ Kaye, Gordon

1877 1999 1744 2135 1225 1030 1958 1458 1542 1520 1842 1884 1209 937 1867 1751 1932 1380 1843 1876 1820 1728 1138 494 1681 1215 1837 1783 1268 976 1627 618 1994 867 1220 66 1992 1892 1609 1291 1844 2033 721 1624 2027 1232 303 722 922 1010 1854 1225 2124 877 1892 1745 1027 1700 1387 2299 1090 1960 1188 889 1317 1837 761 1457 1514 930 881 1286 1639 1634 1907 1574 1575 1634 1678 1221 1530 1681 1677 329 1504 1433 1521 899 1669 885 766 1909 1554 979 543 1339 1299 1724 1369 1188 1924 1709 1872 2139 1641 1714 1820 1938 1791 2079 1567 1885 1454 1711 506

Ke, Princess Ke, Roy Keep, James Keip, Stefan Keklak, Jonathan Kendall, Gail Kendle, Bradlee Kercsmar, Joshua Keren, Isaac Kertesz, Laszlo Kessler, Daniel Keswani, Max Keville, Patrick Khadka, Bimal Khailo, Andre Khairzad, Kamran Khan, Hussain Ali Khan, Mahmood Khandelwal, Harsh Khandelwal, Siddharth Khang, Ryan Khatami, Ali Khatilov, Alex Khatri, Aneesha Khatri, Arun Khatri, Jay Khodyryev, Valeriy Kilpatrick, David Kim, Chanha Kim, Dong Young Kim, James Kim, Jona Kim, Joseph Kim, Jung Kim, Kyongsook Kim, Samuel Kim, Seon Ho Kim, Yong Hyeon Kinash, Bohdan Kindig, William King, Christopher King, Dwight King, Isaac King, Michael Kini, Vivek Kirk, Vernon Kirkland, Ben Kirlew, Kahairi Kirman, Igor Kisler, Tom Kitikun, Medhawin Kiu, Sun Wah Klaverkamp, Henry Klecznski, Josh Klingberg, Steve Knapp, Fred Knapper, Nick Knelev, Igor Knotts, Steven Ko, Carlos Ko, Sean Ko, Siu-Ping Kobylanski, Stan Kocay, Jonathan Koch, Jeff Kochenderfer, Bill Koffman, Darren Koh, C. Brandon Koh, Wee Jin Kohann, Liliana Kohn, Matt Kohut, William Kolb, Ronald Kolker, Dov Komlanvi, Edem Kommel, Aziz Kondo, Leroy (Lee) Kong, Alvin Kong, Don Kong, Kailyn Kong, Serena Kong, Shek Konno, Ryo Koons, David Koretsky, Leonard Kornegay, James Kornegay, Stephen Kornfeld, Seth Korobeinik, Ruslan Korsah, Kweku Kotnis, Soham Kouatli, Omar Kovac, Rene Koval, Jason Koyama, Jaelyn Kozlowska, Anna Kretov, Victor Kretov, Yuri Kring, Thomas Krishnamoorthy, Mahesh Krishnamoorthy, Satish Krivickas, Gintalitas Krotec, Mark Krupinski, Witold Ku, Alexander Kuang, Lee Wei Liang Kubesh, Benjamin Kuchaes, Brian Kuchar, Kevin Kuds, Arsha Kuluva, Neil Kumar, Alok Kumar, Nikhil Kumar, Rajan Kumar, Sahil

NJ CA MD CA IL IL IL CA NJ MD CA CA ON CA AR WA PA NY NY OK OH VA CA OR OH TX MO AZ TX MO MI OR CA MN MN MN NJ FL NJ TN CA CA IL CA MI NY GA AL MN SD SD WI IL PA TX PA IL MA IL FL AR TX TX CT CT MI NC NJ CA IL CT NY MD CA CA IL NC MN NY TX CA CA CA MA WA TX NJ CA NY CA NJ NJ CA MO CA TX FL NJ NY NY NY AZ NJ TN DC NY CA TX TX NV CA CA FL CA

1844 2420 1009 2265 1879 2042 2286 2388 1564 2154 1260 151 1573 1884 1681 1105 716 1344 935 1672 1202 755 1533 916 382 1182 1484 1911 1065 1598 1295 1197 1694 1644 1846 1774 890 986 2099 1940 918 1478 2131 1431 814 2630 1207 2118 861 259 587 1524 1281 1227 1747 1370 1787 1044 1396 1307 1816 1531 1215 2132 1615 1254 1891 2023 2349 1606 1190 1577 1681 144 1998 1070 1850 1993 1668 914 2112 1648 1432 2055 606 1379 1258 1594 2095 2022 1508 1619 1922 1965 1266 1549 1691 1663 1997 615 1911 442 2056 1676 1005 1526 1447 2144 1614 239 1679 859 882 2075 2367

Kumar, Sharath Kumar, Shivansh Kuo, Kuan-Ting Kuok, Joey Kuppurajah, Omprakash Kurcz, Marcin Kurek, Artur Kurimay, Dora Kusnic, Lance Kutler, Toby Kwan, Darren Kwan, Elise Kwan, Kwong Kwan, Lungfor Kwekel, Joshua Kwok, Joyce Kwong, Justin Kwong, Ming Kyere, Julian Kyker, Robert La Plant, Nicholas Labell, Max LaBelle, Matthew Lackie, Frank Laflamme, Jadon Lahman, Phillip Lahovskyy, Volodymyr Lai, Alex Lai, Evan Laird, Joshua Lake, Charles Lake, Kyle Lam, Benjamin Lam, Brandon Lam, Chi Lam, Christopher Lam, David Lam, Davis Lam, Jack Lam, Jude Lam, Kelley Lam, Michael Lam, Spenser Lam, Tan Landan, Phillip Landers, Michael Landlord, Robert Landry, David Lang, Hongyuan Lange, Michael Lange, Roberto Lange, Tracy Lanuza, Rommel Lapikockij, Ken Laronde, Roy Laskin, Leonid Laskowski, Tadeeusz Lasnik, Howard Lau, Kevin Launonen, Matti Lauro Jr., Michael V. Law, Lok Fung Lawrence, Jason Lawrence, Wilbert Lazarev, Michael Lazear, William Le, Ly Le, Stephen Le, Tuan Dai Le, Van Thanh Leathe, Peter Lee, Aileen Lee, Anthony Lee, Arden Lee, Carey Lee, Chan Uk Lee, Ching-Han (John) Lee, David Lee, Derek Lee, Diane Lee, Dong Lee, Hawk Lee, Jason Lee, Jay Lee, Joanna Lee, Joseph Lee, Joshua Lee, Kenneth Lee, Kevin Lee, Mike Lee, Paul Lee, Rod Lee, Roy Lee, Shang-Chiun Lee, Steve Lee, Wen-chi Lee, William Lee, Yoon Seok Lee, Young-Woon Lee, Yuna Lee-Freithofnig, Ludovic Leenerst, Gerald Lehman, Christopher Lehocky, Alex Lehrman, Robert Lei, Jin Ming Lekamlage, Dayananda K. Lemal, Bernard Lemma, Warren Lenhares, Wayne Leon, Bryan Leonard, Brooks Leonard, Ronald Leparulo, Willy Lereah, Mikael

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ May/Jun 2012

IL PA OH VA AZ NC FL CA NY NY PA NY PA FL AZ CA TX CA NC NY ON CA MD MA NC TX CA CA TX TX IN CA IL TX OH MD CA MI NJ NC CA VA MI CA CA CA NY PA OH NY CA CA NC NJ CA MS NM OH IL MN FL TN NY TN MI CA CA CA CA CA GA CA WA CA CA CA MD MD GA NJ CA OH TX CA FL CA NJ NY NJ NC MN NY MI GA CA CA MD KS CA OR NY MO CA OH CA IL CA NY NJ OH NJ CA NJ TX MO

528 2209 1308 1843 1933 1392 1621 655 1865 2417 1163 1789 1546 1787 1994 1228 1032 1716 1250 1784 2259 237 896 2490 1284 2495 879 1458 2129 2004 1931 1163 2141 1057 1287 2573 2224 1788 784 1485 283 2332 1910 1630 1963 1932 2516 1692 1595 1043 1862 1201 1859 2605 498 2190 1933 1907 559 1562 1766 1129 1880 1588 2186 1924 2251 1368 870 1456 1452 1996 1955 1650 1775 1421 1950 390 1303 2233 2082 1725 1572 1600 1025 1497 1239 1157 199 1099 817 883 912 968 1920 364 2036 1977 2590 1986 2329 1523 2720 1523 974 1108 1994 2644 1920 612 526 1689 1760 2108 1258

Leshchiner, David Leshinsky, Michael Leslie, Tom Letchworth, Jesse Leu, Gia Leung, Daniel Leung, Gar Bo Leung, Yat Fai (Scott) Levinski, Alex Levinski, Mishel Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Anthony Lewis, Donovan Li, Amber Yi Li, Arthur Li, Benjamin Li, Chee Li, David Li, Di Li, Dun Han Li, Felix Li, George Li, Grant Li, Han Woon Li, Hangyu Li, Ivy Li, Joe Li, Jonathan Li, Joy Li, Ken Li, Kevin Li, Leon Li, Mickey Li, Nan Li, Peter Li, Qi Fan Li, Rong Li, Shiangtian Li, Shuxin (Max) Li, Steven Li, Tao Li, Taozhi Li, Tom Li, WeiYing Li, Xidan Li, Yu Xiang Li, Yue Li, Yueh-Fen Li, Ziyou Liang, Dangsheng Liang, David Liang, Huigang Liang, Jishan Liang, Yunyi Liang, Zhicheng Lianza, Charles Bo Liao, Liang Liberles, Michael Lidstrom, Joel Lillie, John Lim, Joshua Lim, Kenneth Lim, Noel Lin, Allen Lin, Andrew Lin, Bryant Lin, Dennis Lin, Denwun Lin, Eddy Lin, Emilie Lin, Garret Lin, Hao Lin, Hsueh-yen Lin, Jonathan Lin, Katie Lin, Lilly Lin, Lisa Lin, Patrick Lin, Tina Lin, William Lin, Xing Lin, Yi-Der Lindo, Howard Lindsay, Keaton Ling, Norman Lipschutz, Joel Lipton, Marshall Lisah, Daniel Liske, Debbie Litak, Katarzyna Litavsky, Mary Litwiller, Maxwell Liu, Alex Liu, Bruce Liu, Carol Liu, Charlene Liu, Chunyen Liu, Dan Liu, Ethan Liu, Guannan Liu, James Liu, Jianxu Liu, Jim Liu, Jimmy Liu, John Liu, Johnny Liu, Juan Liu, Kai Liu, Kane Liu, Kelly Liu, Larry Liu, Leslie Liu, Li-Feng Liu, Paul

OR OH KS OH CA CA MI CA CA CA CA CT CA CO NJ NY NY TX FL PA NC FL AZ IL WA CA MN MO PA FL MD MD NJ CA MO NJ MD VA NJ DE OR MD IL CA OH CA TX IN IN MD NJ IN NY CA TX NY PA AL WA CA TX CA FL CA GA CA WA AZ CA MI FL NC NY NJ NC NY AZ NY FL FL FL IL IN CA MN MA FL NY NY CA CA CA CA CA NJ CA CA CA CA IN NV TX TX CA CA AZ MO MO CA CA NY IN GA IN GA

1198 1125 1737 616 2124 1716 1472 1947 2354 1617 1898 1905 2094 1236 1722 1996 1759 1098 1685 1319 1836 1838 2024 1682 685 1544 572 1988 2140 1005 1685 1726 1549 2357 1262 1457 1170 1399 754 1998 488 1888 1677 1417 1147 1411 1325 1859 1677 534 2054 2194 1718 1404 1155 754 2341 1219 1349 1780 2010 1466 1851 845 1802 308 1993 1731 265 1378 1771 1938 963 1361 1493 2158 1525 1126 2287 1151 987 451 2135 519 1530 1630 1717 930 1666 503 1770 2264 1520 2055 1778 1063 645 251 860 1605 1500 1572 477 1547 1378 2049 634 953 469 1782 1223 896 2201 1676 1919

Liu, Raymond Liu, Roger Liu, Samuel Liu, Taylor Liu, Victor Liu, Wei Liu, Xiao Liu, Xuan Liu, Yalin Liverato, Juno Livshin, Bella Lockwood, Cristine Loe, Kock Loi, Tan Loiko, Alex Lolla, Shriharsh Lombard, Will Longpre, Luc Look, Raymond Loomis, Kirk Lopez, Elvis Lorand, Victor Lorenc, Mario Lorenc, Slawomir Lotz, David Lou, Yieng Louris, Henry Louvier, Andrew Lowry, Steven Loyola, Edward Lozitskiy, Igor Lu, Amy Lu, Andrew Lu, Guo Hui Lu, GuoJian Lu, Hsu-Chang Lu, Jason Lu, Jie Lu, William Luan, Li Lui, Charles Lui, Patrick Kin Luen Lui, Tuyet Luk, Lincoln Lull, William Lungu, Adrian Luo, Albert Luo, Cameron Luo, Henry Luo, Jeffrey Luo, Michelle Luo, Robert Luo, Wei Luong, Jon Lupu, Romica Lur, Derek Lurty, Scott Luther, Gary Ly, Du Ly, Quyen Ly, Tai Ly, Tom Lynum, James Ma, Jamie Ma, Jeffrey Ma, Kenneth Ma, Lucy Ma, Mankit Ma, Yung Ma, Yuntao Maamoun, Adam Macauley, Mitchel MacClaren, Mary Beth Mace, Omar MacFarlane, Kenneth Mack, Raymond Madinur, Harsha Magloire, Rotchild Maharaj, Dayanand Maharaj, Dylita Maharaj, Shiva Mahesh, Saketh Mahmoud, Naim Mahrous, Michael Mai, Truong Maisel, David Maisonet, William Majied, Saleem Mak, Daniel Malcy, Vivian Malek, Amanda Malek, Attila Malek, Casey Malek, Scott Malench, Mark Malik, Aamir Malik, Hisham Malladi, Bhargav Malladi, Bhavya Malyovanny, Mikhail Mamaril, Nicholo Man, Rossey Man, Tiffany Mancilla, Robert Mangapit, Abraham Manginelli, Andrew Mannbeck Jr., Kevin Mannbeck, Kevin Mannem, Keshav Mannem, Rohan Manning, Thomas Maple, Steve Mar, John Marcum, Jerry Marcus, Uko

FL NJ FL MO OK OK FL NY NY MI CO PA PA CA MO MI LA TX NV CT OH OH FL SC CA FL NV GA NY WA CO WA FL FL OK VA TX TX SC NY WI FL AR FL FL NY OH FL MI TN NY CT CA NC WA MO NC TX IN CT CT CT CT TX IL IL AR NY NC IL NY CA AZ TX OR OR AL CA KS CA CA OH TX MI NY AR AR AR TX FL MI AZ CA FL NC CA OH NM OH IL AR TX AR IN OH NY IN NY CA CA CT CT NJ NJ MI

918 1850 828 1007 1625 914 1036 1890 1869 1339 1297 1685 1812 752 2076 965 1683 1791 620 992 1494 1752 1576 1403 1389 2033 1309 1793 2068 1548 2129 1235 1316 809 901 1282 707 777 2067 1382 899 1921 706 916 1532 998 1428 1518 1579 1584 965 2228 1200 2011 954 874 1632 1964 1238 1535 2135 1939 933 1463 2037 1695 562 1911 1006 1817 1469 1761 1317 1303 236 283 1741 1741 1184 1016 1742 419 1259 1833 1118 112 63 1787 923 962 851 1790 2000 755 1529 1475 1115 1533 603 2209 1658 1261 882 1584 1493 1374 1402 2052 1901 2218 497 512 547 142 1053

Mard, Christian Margolin, Alexander Marik, Victor Marin, Ely Marks, Douglas Marks, Steven Marlin, Shaman Maronian, Andre Maronian, Marc Martin, Bruce Martin, Dennis Martin, Gary Martin, James Martin, Michael Martin, Richard Martin, Ryan Martinez, Glenn Martinez, Gustavo Martini, Lee Martynow, Jacek Maskey, Eric Masminster, Joseph Mason, John Massey, Randy Masterson, Sean Matos, Antonio Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Mayfield, Matthew Mayzlin, Alex Mbow, Umar McAfee, Richard McAllister, Evan McAloose, Hunter McAloose, Louella McClanahan, Johnny McCormick, Michael McCrary, Chris McCrary, Michael McElveen, Corey McGimpsey, William McGivern, Tom McKenzie, Leon Michael McKinley, Steve McKinnon, Liam McKinnon, Richard McLain, James McLean, Tim McLeod, Michael McLonis, Richard McMillin, Kathryn McNinch, Jeff McPherson, Emani McPherson, Ronald McQueen, Jim McRitchie, Michael Meador, Judy Mecklenburg, Eckehard Medcalf, Randall Medina, Frank Medina, Samuel Medunjanin, Adis Medunjanin, Adnan Medunjanin, Amel Meeks, Ronald Mehrabian, Alexander Mehrabian, Andranik Mehta, Sonya Mei, Jianglin Mei, Steven Meier, Michael Mejia, Diego Melekhov, Alex Mendoza, Francisco Meng, Kevin Meng, Mei Meng, Todd Mense, Tobias Mercado, Richard Mereddi, Aravind Meredith, Aidan Mergliano, Ray Meringolo, Steve Merola, Peter Merritt, Mark Meyer, Joseph Mhapsekar, Sana Mhapsekar, Stuti Mhapsekar, Viful Michael-Ogbe, Ovie Michaud, Travis Midgley, Drake Migliaccio, Thomas Mihet, Emilian Mijares, Javier Miller, Aaron Miller, Al Miller, Brian L Miller, Chris Miller, Ed Miller, Jason Miller, Jim Miller, John Miller, John Miller, Lee Miller, Paul Miller, William Milton, Bob Min, Andrew Mintsiveris, Nick Miranda, Rudy Mirani, Jash Mirani, Neel Mistry, Jayesh Mistry, Krupa Mitchell, Israel

VA MI OH MI AL DC NY NJ NJ KS TX MA MD IN CA FL NJ MD CA NV PA OK TX MI CO FL MI CA CA CA NC NC FL IL CA MI NY IL FL FL VA TX OR MI NJ PA NJ FL CA MI MI MI MI NC TX OH AR IA NJ MD NY CA CA MN FL TN TN FL CA IL IL IL IN CA MD CA MI CA CA MI NY FL NY CA CA CA FL IN TN OH CA IL FL CA NY NY OK CA NY MN MN CA MN TX CA TX AL CA CA TX IL CA CA CA CT

1141 1685 1038 1700 1831 1663 405 549 564 2108 1724 1243 1582 1378 835 2214 1645 1962 836 238 1940 1253 1816 1260 1647 2121 1889 910 1982 1994 967 1362 666 1394 2275 1611 1442 1297 1306 1878 2308 2106 774 1910 1962 836 1530 1001 1711 1213 2153 1342 2076 1544 1184 1699 764 1551 123 2404 1830 372 1724 1576 1378 1135 1635 2124 1510 1845 506 826 1566 2282 1513 1625 1501 1905 1573 1726 1420 1741 1536 1669 1403 571 1975 1816 1686 1729 954 971 2108 245 1298 1087 1163 1792 608 1938 1024 1477 1360 2194 2325 2285 1540 1089 2063 1863 1836 2362 1337 2480 1960

Mitchell, John Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell, Robert Mitroi, Stefan Mobley, William Mocharrafie, Bassam Modesta, Kristoff Modi, Aarav Mohan, Avi Mojaverian, Parviz Mojtahed, Masoud Moldobaev, Dilmurat Moledina, Iqubal Molenda, Ed Monaco, James Montalvo, Ariel Montealegre, Miller Montgomery, Karl Montiel, Javier Montoya, Emanuel Monwar, MD. Maruf Moore, John Moore, Zach Moorhouse, Kenneth Mora, Ariel Sanchez Morales, Angel Moreno, Valentin Morgan, Dan Morgenroth, Kyle Moriguchi, Matt Morley, Evan Morley, Michael Morris, Chin Chai Jenny”” Morris, Mathew Mosaferi, Vahid Moy, Harold Moy, Larry Moy, Zachary Moyant, Kyle Mozur, Joseph Mualem, Patrick Mueller, Rick Mugren, Ibrahim Muhammad, James Mujumdar, Sahaj (Sam) Mulligan, Tom Muni, Niraj Munoz, Fran Munoz, Mark Murakami, Hikaru Murakami, Jun Murakami, Nana Murakami, Tamaki Murnahan, Tony Musku, Anvesh Myers, Neil Myers, Wayne Nabity, Kevin Nadig, Ananya Nadmichettu, Raghu Nagel, Raymond Nagvekar, Sanam Nahum, Gaby Naidu, Vijayakumar Nail, Danny Nakamura, Akiko Nakamura, Takumi Napartovich, Mark Naqvi, Syed Naresh, Arcot Naresh, Sangita Naresh, Sid Nasir, Ahsan Nasseir, Timothy Nathan, Ulysses Nathanson, Adam Naugle, Gerald Nayak, Avinash Nayak, Shrikant Neal, Mark Neal, Thomas Needham, Winston Needle, Matthew Neelakantan, Mekala Neelakantan, Neel Neelakantan, Taruna Neimark, Dashiel Nelson, Thomas Neuendorf, Tim New, Bob Newby, Jean Newman, Julian Newton, Dwight Ng, Anthony Ng, Jon Ng, Kevin Ng, Kyle Ng, Nicholas Ng, Samantha Ngo, Anh Quoc Nguyen, Aaron Nguyen, Andrew Nguyen, Brenda Nguyen, Duc Nguyen, Ha Trung Nguyen, Hoan Nguyen, Hung Nguyen, Hung Nguyen, Jasmine Nguyen, Jeff Nguyen, Johnny Nguyen, Justin Nguyen, Ken Nguyen, Khoa Nguyen, Kim

MN CT CA OR CA WA CA CA TX OR VA IN CA OR CA CA OH CA MN CA MN CA MN VA VA MD MD OH FL NY NY OH NV AZ TX OH TX CA VA AZ CO CA NY PA NC KS OR WA NY IL NY NY MN PA NY TN NY CT IL NY NY CA PA FL CA CT NY CA WA NC FL FL TX MI TX FL IL FL IN CA CA MA NC NY CA FL CA CA IL NY NY OR TN CT CA FL IL NJ MI VA MI TX NJ IL NJ PA TX TX AK AK AK WA PA NY IL

2031 665 1384 1713 1669 934 2242 1023 748 2009 1705 1568 1843 1923 1976 1837 1698 2171 1632 1627 1887 1760 1569 1898 1380 2090 1994 1500 1322 2158 350 1216 708 1306 2155 1322 1189 1276 1707 1491 1795 1169 1383 1074 1988 1698 747 1986 726 1431 509 1620 1165 1242 2071 1513 1007 947 1639 493 649 938 784 989 1252 1417 2525 1982 786 997 1665 2371 1431 1586 1152 1005 2013 2393 1100 467 130 2027 1725 1811 1709 1058 1513 1815 1293 1905 1494 1375 1341 1526 731 1517 1240 1372 1210 1527 300 1625 495 1908 654 566 1233 1942 1161 1269 545 837 695 1018 1653

Nguyen, Lai Nguyen, Leah Nguyen, Long Nguyen, Nha Nguyen, Paul Nguyen, Phuong Nguyen, Quoc Bao Nguyen, Raymond Nguyen, Steve Nguyen, Tai Nguyen, Tam Nguyen, Tay Nguyen, Thanh Nguyen, Thomas Nguyen, Thong Nguyen, Thuy Nguyen, Tien Nguyen, Trieu-Tien Nguyen, Tu Nguyen, Victor Nguyen, Vu Nham, Thy Ni, Quan Nicolas, Frederick Niculescu, Gabriel Nie, Derek Nie, George Nie, Sen Nieves, Jose Nisbet, Ben Nitke, Maxmilian Njeck, Celine Noble, Steve Noguera, Miguel Nordby, Mark Norman, Delbert Norman, Leland Norton, Richard Notestein, Daniel Novikoff, David Nowakowski, Jan Nugent, Patrick Nunez, Paul Nyce, Jesse OBrian, Chris Obrosov, Vladimir Ochs, Philip Ochsner, John O’Donoghue, Jerry Offord, Keith Ogihara, Miles Ogilvie, Joe Ogitchida, Mukwa Ogunshola, Abolaji Ohore, Ajayi Okunoren, Olutosin Olff, Shane Olin, Lauren Olingou, Serge Oliver, David O’Neale, Kevin O’Neil, Erin O’Neil, Mark O’Neill, Tim Ong, Meng-Yung Onnen, Don Ooka, Hiroka Or, Barry Ortiz, Mariano Ortiz, Ruben Ostrowski, Ted Ou, Jonathan Oulapor, Abbas Overbeek, Brad Overton, Andrew Owen, Lee Owsiak, Boguslaw Pace, Brian Pace, Kevin Padilla, Jose Padilla, Juan Page, Robert Pahl, John Pak, Young Palgon, Robert Palm, Guillermo Palmore, David Palocsay, Eva Palys, Dennis Pan, Qingyue Pancoast, Taylor Pandana, Herman Pandey, Aneel Pandit, Ajay Pang, Chong Papaseit, Fabricio Pardeshi, Akash Pardesi, Mohan Pare, Christopher Parekh, Nihal Parekh, Rishabh Parfenov, Sasha Parikh, Rohan Park, Issey Park, Joseph Park, Kyong (Sara) Parmar, Ganesa Parmar, Ketan Parrish, Albert Parrish, James Parrish, Jane Parsons, Alex Parthsarthy, Prasiddha Pascual, Adrian Pasion, Donato

CA 2301 CA 857 AZ 1766 AR 637 CT 900 TX 1639 NJ 1082 MI 1457 WA 731 AL 1913 NY 1456 TX 1540 OH 1829 OH 2177 OH 2131 NC 1340 NJ 887 NJ 1171 NJ 2004 WI 1295 NY 435 Sebastia NY 1517 TX 1057 OR 1561 CA 1732 OH 2081 PA 1346 FL 1087 NY 2437 NC 1503 IL 1592 CT 1392 CA 671 MO 1837 MI 1186 TN 1871 MN 1709 WA 1854 CA 1932 CA 1666 WV 951 CA 1715 CA 1327 CA 1146 CA 2243 NY 1365 CA 914 AR 1716 FL 1721 TX 1393 NY 2046 AZ 1535 FN 2394 AZ 1395 IN 1187 CA 1884 OH 1822 CO 1199 NY 1229 NY 2140 FL 1508 FL 1737 MD 2162 CT 680 IL 1941 TN 678 AZ 796 NY 1762 CA 809 CA 1429 IL 1754 NC 1555 PA 1580 CA 1449 PA 1998 MI 504 CA 1514 NC 1716 CA 1716 NY 1839 CT 1817 AZ 1247 PA 1741 NY 1851 NY 1395 GA 1379 AZ 2004 TX 1293 IN 1667 MN 793 MI 739 KS 1362 MI 916 CA 672 IN 1834 CA 1142 OK 837 TX 1198 GA 1448 AR 787 TX 996 FL 1605 CO 2255 CO 2036 NY 802 NY 1954 MO 1009 MI 1531 CA 1967 NY 2280 MN 1702 NH 1483 IL 1824 FL 2102

Patel, Aashay Patel, Anjalee Patel, Mehul Patel, Neel Patel, Parth Patel, Pratik Patel, Shriya Patterson, Billy Pattison, Eric Patton, Charles Paul, Suresh Payne, Robert Pech, David Pech, Keith Pech, Seth Peele, Stanley Pei, Andrew Pei, Patrick Peise, Dieter Pelky, Chuck Pena, Campodonico Pena, Miguel Peng, Bo Peng, JohnYeng Peng, Yun Penkhasov, Alex Pepper, Jeff Perdomo, Frank Perez, Alexis Perez, Richard Perrine, David Pessoa, Reinaldo Petersen, Erik Peterson, Andrew Petterson, Daniel Petty, Tyrone Pham, Alex Pham, Anh Quang Pham, Hoang Pham, Khang Pham, Phil Phan, Andy Phan, Sang Phan, Toan Phan, Tung Phatak, Ajay Phelps, Jonathan Phillips, Ben Phipps, Cameron Phong, Valarie Picciotto, Daniel Pierotti, Joe Pietri Lugo, Richard Pillas, Lionel Pinapati, Richard Pingali, Vidya Pinili, Keiran Mark Pinzon, Carlos Pios, Gene Pirzada, Shahid Pisarczyk, Phillip Pisarczyk, Tomasz Plaisted, Thomas Plassman, Carl Plugowski, Bogdan Plummer, Michael Podany, Eric Podbielkowski, Marek Polacchi, Skip Polanco, James Polecki, Henry Polik, Imre Polishuk, Leonid Polovinchik, Aleksandr Polyakov, Alex Pommerening, Amy Poon, Jerome Poore, Brian Pop, Florian Popov, Mikhail Popovich, Victor Porter, Paul Portilla, Rafael Porush, Alex Posner, Elin Post, Kyle Potaychuk, Simen Potts, Ken Poulsen, Ping Powalski, Ann Marie Powell, Robert Powell, Tyler Powers, David Prabakar, Kiran Pradhan, Chinmaya Prasanna, Shreyas Prato, Fernando Pratt, George Pratt, Harrison Pratt, Jeff Pratt, Matthew Predota, Edward Preiss, Austin Preiss, Scott Preston, Collin Preston, Desmond Preuss, Eugene Priestley, Robert Priso, Guy Pritsker, Ross Prum, Sam Pryce, Doug Puchalski, Krzysztof Pulido, Oscar

NY MD CA CA CA OR CA CA WA GA NJ AZ MS OH AZ MD AL NJ CA NJ WV FL FL CA FL NC CA VA IL OH CA NJ CA CA CA CA MO CT AZ MI FL VA TX VA CA PA NY PA NY CA CA NM CA CA CT PA IN IN TX IL CA CA CO FL WA MI AL NV MI FL FN WV DE FN FL PA NJ IL AL FL TX NC FL CA MI IL OR NY NY AZ FL FN FL CA NY WA NY IN NJ NY RI IL IL NY PA OH PA TN TN FL FL FL NY NC MI

1662 1533 660 160 1774 1889 1234 1911 1039 1553 1664 1290 1829 1126 1171 1978 1605 1733 1393 1495 1331 1709 1784 1813 1267 1420 1876 1663 1707 634 424 1043 422 1329 832 760 2517 1388 1888 1760 1742 1827 1399 1989 244 870 1231 732 1725 1431 820 1046 2554 1351 1077 1743 1567 1702 1490 1870 1713 898 1096 1488 615 1628 1313 1330 1030 1499 1394 1615 1527 1968 1541 1600 1732 881 1440 1205 2087 2086 1833 696 1610 1823 1329 402 718 1356 1786 1763 1511 281 1619 817 1426 1018 1123 419 1763 985 1112 2283 1928 1009 1707 1859 930 942 1454 2033 1414 1201 613

Pulla, Yogesh Puls, Chris Puri, Raul Puri, Sahil Qian, Jianshen Qian, Weida Qiao, Joe Qiao, Sean Qin, Henry Qin, Tina Qiu, Claire Qiu, Hansen Qiu, Huan Qiu, Qun Qiu, Tiequn Qu, Anthony Qu, Peng Qu, Xiaoge Quant, Brandon Quarshie, Kenneth Que, Xingyi Quesada, Chris Quiala, Everth Rachmadi, Dhadhie Ragno, Joe Rajaram, Sattanathan Raje, Omkar Rajendram, Tamim Rakauskas, Rimuydas Ramachandra, Indiresha Ramakrishnan, Kavya Ramalingam, Bala Raman, Sruti Ramanan, Sai Ramaswami, Shreyas Ramaswamy, Ashwin Ramesh, Venkatramanan Randmer, Glen Rane, Ashutosh Rapoport, Daniil Rapp, Peter Rasay, Raul Rather, IV, William Ratner, Barry Raudebaugh, Bart Ravi, Anil Ravin, Arkadiy Rawlings, Chris Ray, Kevin Raymond, Jim Real, Jim Redman, Jon Reed, Barney Rego, Jon Reheis, Peter Reid, Gerald Reid, Ricardo Reilly, Austin Reinecke, James Remtula, Amano Rengarajan, Abhishek Reyes, Luis Reynard, Kenneth Reynolds, John Rho, Christopher Ribbink, Daniel Richardson, Clay Richter, Jim Riggs, Alan Riggs, Ken Riley, Anthonette Ring, Daniel Ripp, Kevin Rivera, Eduardo Rivero, Carlos Rizik, Ahmed Rizvi, Tahir Robbins, Ken Robbins, Parker Robbins, William (Bill) Roberts, Courtney Robertshaw, Gregg Robertson, Zach Robins, Evan Robinson, Terry Robinson, Thaddeus Robinson, Vance Rockwell, David Rockwell, Sam Rodich, Mile Rodriguez, Jose Rojas, Irving (Chinoz) Rollins, Adrian Rollins, Kenny Roman, Richard Romero, Cesar Romero, Ramon Rong, Tian Rosales, Justin Rosario, Marcelo Rosby, Raphyel Rosen, James Rosenbaum, Vladimir Rosenzweig, David Roskos, Ken Rostankowski, Michael Roth, Frank Rountree, Dennis Rountree, Timothy Roura, Miguel Rouzeau, Guy Gerard Rowe, Dwight Rowe, Peter John Rowland, Richard Rowley, Tim

MI NV NY FL PA CA CA OH TX TX FL OH MN VA MI MI VA CA MI IL VA NJ CA AZ AZ CA MI NC NJ CA MN NY NC TN NJ MI WA TX CA FL NY NY TX AZ MO WA IL MA MD TX IL OH PA TX CT VA AZ FL FL NY CA IN MI MI OH IL MI MD NY PA CA CA TX FN IN CT PA PA CA NJ NC TN MI NY FL NJ IL TX CA MO WI AR IN IN PA CA TX TX IN CA MN CA IN IN DC OH MN NC CA IL NY MD OH NJ OH

1440 2061 1730 1686 2025 864 1722 764 1788 1192 1871 781 2121 2093 733 1676 1513 36 1514 805 1814 1606 2124 1089 1564 914 2107 1439 1580 839 894 1398 1449 1887 1777 1305 1966 1772 1929 870 1496 1734 1944 1605 1463 1286 1413 1854 1747 1206 1712 956 1671 1489 1081 1859 1358 1819 1982 1506 1949 1248 1456 1201 1808 1156 1165 1917 1440 941 2368 1254 1385 2496 1792 1328 1474 433 1481 711 1460 1539 1556 1425 1346 568 1630 997 1830 958 1272 615 2200 2468 2313 1613 1137 906 1860 1544 709 1508 1701 1515 1899 1619 1652 2005 2218 1835 2264 1644 592 773 1934

Rozmarek, John Rubin, David Rubin, John Ruggiero, Joan Russel, Samuel Russell, Mark Ryan, Douglas Ryan, Michael Ryan, Scott Ryberg, Cole Ryvkin, Dmitry Sabala, Ethan Sabas, Kristopher Sabeti, Basir Sabo, Robert Sagady, Jerry Saha, Sudip Sahgal, Aayush Sahlool, Abel Salaman, Michael Salas, John Salay, Mickey Salcido, Alexander Saleh, Khaled Salek, Kamran Salisbury, Shaffer Salman, Haitham Samarakoon, Priyan Samkoff, Rhoda Sampat, Dhruv Sanberg, Robert Sanchez, Edgar Sanchez, Ramon Sanders, Richard Sandin, Joel Sandmair, Paul Sang, Yoo Pou Sangren, Larry Sanguinetti, George Sankar, Prasand Sanzotta, Dominic Sanzotta, Jr., Dominic Sarangdhar, Tejas Saria, Roberto Sarmadi, Mohammad Sarnaik, Dipti Sasieta, Alfonso E. Sastry, Murali Satskiy, Sergey Sattar, Faryal Satterlee, Johnny Savage, Carl Savage, Jef Savage, Jon Savery, Bob Sawnery, T.J. Sbarra, Jeremiah Scarlett, Terrence Scarp, A.J. Scavo, Bruce Schang, Kenny Scharbrough, Bill Scheipner, George Schichtel, Robert Schifano, Darrell Schiff, Jeff Schiff, Tyrone Schlager, Gary Schlernitzauer, William Schlessinger, Lou Schmidt, Avishy Schmidt, Mike Schmidt, Tilo Schmidt, Tobias Schmucker, Philip Schneider, Benjamin Schorn, Joe Schorn, Sylvester Schrader, Lisa Schragger, Ben Schreuders, Gerard Schrimpf, Ron David Schroeder, Guenther Schuback, Joshua Schwartz, Lester Schwartz, Zane Schwarzman, Garrett Scoggins, Jeff Scott, Andre Scroggins, Tyler Searles, Duane Seedtibood, Pornthip Seemiller, Daniel Seemiller, Daniel Seemiller, Randy Segal, Igor Segrest, James Segrest, James Charles Seibold, Lee Seicean, Nathan Seidenfeld, Ian Seiple, Kenneth Sencaj, John Sencaj, Michael Senter, Albert Sepahbodie, Teymour Sethi, Shashi Settle, D.J. Shah, Aarsh Shah, Ejaz Shah, Kunal Shah, Mohit Shah, Naman Shah, Nolan Shah, Vaishal

CA 1764 CA 2264 MD 1512 KY 2294 (Arjun) CA 1826 NY 2521 ID 1353 IN 1118 MA 1805 CA 160 MI 1569 MI 1726 NY 1589 MD 1502 IL 1451 IL 1765 CA 1474 MO 899 CA 2025 MD 1271 FN 2350 CA 1906 MO 609 CA 2159 NY 1364 TX 1072 OR 1285 CA 692 WA 2272 CO 1890 NY 1280 CA 1576 FL 1711 FL 1554 MN 1590 CA 2412 NY 1865 AL 2019 OH 1345 AZ 1829 VA 1559 IN 2026 FL 1620 FL 1922 CA 678 NJ 1689 TX 1707 CA 1923 TX 1561 CA 1719 IL 1769 TX 2055 DC 1466 CA 854 IN 1587 NY 2204 CA 1506 CT 1585 PA 1319 CA 1822 MI 1696 FL 860 NJ 546 PA 1099 CO 1834 CA 2062 TX 1277 IL 1819 PA 2205 PA 2196 MN 1120 AL 1820 IL 1402 MI 1965 OH 1501 MD 1898 NY 1111 OH 1188 OH 1623 IN 1944 IN 1256 MI 961 IN 1639 WA 764 OR 1090 IL 879 OH 1805 MI 418 NY 1679 GA 1466 MS 1603 AR 1405 NM 914

Shahabi, Ali Shahnazari, Robert Shankarakrishnan, Suresh Shankaren, Chandramouli Shanker, Srividhya Shao, Yu Shapovalov, Anton Sharfuddin, Asif Sharma, Rajeev Sharma, Sajan Shaw, Jeffrey Shaw, Matthew Shaykevich, Yuriy She, Yue Shehadeh, Lina Shehadeh, Nabil Shehata, Andrew Sheldon, Brian Shen, Kevin Sheppard, Austin Shi, Hao Shi, Hao Shi, Jingyi Shi, Qing Michael Shih, David Shih, Johnathan Shih, Paul Shiju, Tharun Shim, Jason Shiogai, Nobuyuki Shirzay, Bashir Shiu, Emmanuel Shiwa, Edson Shiwa, Felipe Shmulyan, Mikhail Shodhan, Shashin Shortz, Will Shrestha, Ujwal Shtarkman, Boris Shtorper, Filex Shu, Xiaokui Shukyurov, Vladimir Shultz, John Shum, Kent Shumays, Ahmad Siegler, Steven Siemion, Joseph Sierra, Ofer Sikes, Jev Silberman, Allen Silic, Muris Simcox, Bryan Simkovic, Jozef Simmons, Gerald Simon, Craig Simon, Matt Simon, Richard Simon, Yannick Simson, Alex Singer, Stuffy Singhal, Aman Singireddy, Suraj Sinha, Pranay Sinha, Shay Sisselman, Mark Siu, George Sivaraman, Niranjan Sivkov, Roman Skolnick, Gabriel Skolnick, Micaiah Skowronski, Julia Skripnik, Ivan Skrzypczak, John Skrzypek, Dave Slaback, Steve Slapnik, Bob Slick, Graham Slomski, Adam Slomski, Krzysztof Smart, Jeff Smedstad, Don Smith, Arnold Smith, Brent Smith, Brody Smith, Bryna Smith, Frank Smith, Greg Smith, Karen Smith, Kirk Smith, Kyle Smith, Perry Smithey, John Smolak, William

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

RATINGS

IN KY IL MN PA CA IL NY IL NY MI MI CA OH WA WI OR TX NM CA NC OH OH WA MO IN MI CA CA CA FL FL CA NY OH OH WI IL MD CA FL NY AZ NY NY CA TX IL VA IN FL NY OH IN CT CT CA NC MI TX GA IN IN MI CA FL CA MI NY PA IN IN IN TN MD CA FL FL IL CT CA PA WA FL FL OR AL NY NY MA FL OH AZ WA MI

1720 2241 1301 1026 1520 1976 1674 1425 2253 1597 546 773 1351 991 760 980 2012 1516 1970 1285 1855 1962 1491 547 963 1108 1214 2042 1802 1807 773 1436 986 1624 411 1011 2118 1248 534 1568 1692 844 895 1891 1515 893 1891 1947 1476 1620 1858 1664 1560 1163 2083 296 1696 408 1461 2055 2076 823 1611 679 806 2083 1349 1482 1513 1929 2165 1218 919 1045 614 1060 923 396 1420 1332 1619 987 1784 559 2064 1691 975 780 2128 1941 2007 1813 1144 1306 1126

NJ CA NY MA CA CA CA CA NY CA CA CA CA MI CA NJ AL CA CA WA MI Sneath, Rod IL Snider, Nicholas FL Snigurskaya, Natalia FL Snow, Liam PA Snyder, Andrew MN So, Preston FL Sobota, Sylwester PA Soliman, Hasan Solis, Engelbert AR Solomon, Godfrey IL Somani, Nikhil NY Somani, Samarth NJ Somasundaram, Jayakumar FL Sommers, David FL Song, Bryan NY Sorensen, Larry CA Soskic, Vukman MA Sotolongo, Jesus CA Sourou, Simplice OH Southern, Guy CA Soylu, Bilal CA Spaniol, Isak AL Spaniol, Steffan NY Spears, Sam CA Speicher, Philip NY Speicher, Randy NY Spencer, Andrew TX Spencer, Ronald CA Spesick, Tom NY Spesick, Tyler NV Spicer, Dennis OH Spira, Marvin CA Spitz, Noah PA Spitzer, Robert CA Squire, Graham AZ Squire, James NJ Sranko, Ladislav CA Sridhar, Nikhil CA Srinivasan, Aditya TX Srinivasan, Santhoshkumar OH Sripraserth, Kanin FL Stadler, Ryan VA Staker, Joe MD Stamp, Eric OH Stanco, Angelo OH Stanfill, Royce TX Stasinowsky, Kym CA Stastny, Jaroslav NJ Staylor, John KS Steele, Zach AZ Steffan, Clinton K. CA Stein, Berl MA Steinberg, Harry IL Stephens, Tim TX Stephenson, Dennis CA Stephenson, Jahvan FL Sterling, Daryl PA Stevens, Sr., Robert K. CA Stewart, Sidney CA Stiles, John CA Stirbu, Petrica (Petro) OR Stockamp, Brant AZ Stockamp, Cliff MN Stoddard, Susan MO Stokes, Curtis NY Stollenmeier, Werner AR Stone, David CA Stosio, Gary NJ Stottlar, Gary MD Stouffer, Austin MD Stout, David NY Stout, James PA Stout, Jaymee CA Strain, Fielder CA Strasnick-Kelly, Max NC Streng, Andrew CT Strom, Erik CA Stubbs, Sharon FL Stuckey, David TX Studenikin, Artem TX Sturtevant, Mike OH Stuyvesant, Rick TX Su, Chad CA Su, Christian OK Su, Hugo FL Su, Mengjin WA Sublett, Brandon CA Suen, Brandon CA Suen, Edmund FL Sug Lee, Hyo OH Sujo, Luis FL Sullivan, Clifford CA Sullivan, David IN Sumeri, Alex CO Sumilhig, Santiago

323 1691 386 1449 1404 2151 1870 1010 334 897 835 972 2183 1301 2098 1838 1315 1751 1837 2223 1863 2043 1047 1836 746 1666 1814 1223 971 1511 1273 1061 1285 1750 1550 436 1706 2073 1104 1481 241 2074 1898 1167 213 1717 900 981 814 1013 2042 1801 2075 1534 1592 1617 517 1036 823 1354 1813 1325 1464 2203 1304 2254 1163 776 1607 1671 1876 252 1674 1168 1867 1615 1661 2199 588 617 1920 1188 1551 2055 843 949 835 1876 203 277 496 1351 1785 1088 2211 1719 2070 599 1952 1261 1086 991 1303 2418 989 1759 2384 1720 1813 1406 1821 1209 671 1445 1825

CA Sun, Charles CA Sun, Dewei (Frank) WA Sun, Heeju NJ Sun, Julia TX Sun, Lynn Sun, Terence NY Sun, Vivian WA Sun, Winnie FL Sun, Yunju OH Sung, Jia-Yu AR Sung, Joanna CA Sung, Rachel CA Sung, Shing-Li CT Suntum, Scott NC Surmann, Olaf NY Surwase, Hemant CA Sutton, Bill CA Suwito, Wan MD Suzuki, Chiyako MD Suzuki, Michiya CA Suzuki, Misae CA Suzuki, Takuma CA Svobodny, Misha CA Swanson, Eric WA Sweed, Ross MN Sweeney, John AL Swersky, Jeffrey NC Swindell, Carl CA Syal, Manju CO Syed, Salman CA Szacilowski, Tomasz OK Szczukowski, Marcin TX Sze, Jean CA Tacoronte, Cody NY Tacoronte, Jesse CT Tacuri, Gabriel NJ Tadiaman, Arthur NY Tai Du, Guo IN Tai, Brandon NY Takahashi, Riu MN Talwatte, Xavier MD Tam, Tony NY Tamhane, Ashutosh TX Tan(Foster), Ping MN Tan, Angie CT Tan, Carl IN Tan, Christopher NY Tan, Jason NY Tan, Jay TX Tan, Jonathan TX Tan, Rendinald CA Tanaka, Takeshi TX Tang, Daniel CA Tang, Haine CA Tang, James Yuanrong CA Tang, Jason NY Tang, Kevin CA Tang, Paul CA Tang, Richard CA Tang, Ricky OH Tang, Saide OH Tang, Stanley CA Tang, Yanghang Tangyingyong, Sutanit Joe”” CA CA Tani, Yoshinori AZ Tannehill, John CA Tanner, Ralph CA Tantravahi, Pranav OK Tao, Xin AZ Taplin, George PA Tarkowski, Jim OR Tat, Justin MI Tay, Patrick CA Taylor, Dan NY Tchizmarov, Atanas AR Tebelskis, Jim NY Tedesco, Trent OH Teille, Christoph TX Teli, Punam TX Teli, Vishal TX Tenerife, Ange MD Teodorescu, George NC Teoh, Choo Wei VA Teotia, Seemant CA Tessmer, John IL Teytelman, Gene MN Thaden, John MI Thai, Brian GA Thaker, Ravi MD Thakkar, Amogh IL Thakkar, Sohom NH Tharathattel, Luke TX Theil, Martin Theis, Karl VA Therriault, James CA Thigpen, Rick IL Thiruvengadam, Nikhil AZ Thomas, Naveen MI Thompson, Delroy NY Thompson, Mark MI Thorn, Kristen MI Thornton, Jon MI Tian, Hershel MI Tian, Maggie NY Tiger, Donald CA Tigney, Larry IL Timsuwan, Sakda IL Tio, Fredrick CA Tio, Nicholas OH Tipton, David NC Tith, Kosal CA Tittel, Timothy OH Tjeada, Chaz CT Tolen, Robert CA Tomoi, Sam

1807 1570 1389 1409 2186 2144 600 1243 1734 887 922 1715 1617 351 1848 2491 1973 1999 1801 1739 1822 1473 1473 1455 1007 1903 1813 1430 2476 1468 1467 1202 1712 1446 1469 2046 969 1710 2023 1735 2280 1778 1862 1837 1607 1492 2063 1052 911 1530 1717 1914 1425 1548 942 784 1922 1529 2000 671 602 1537 857 300 2370 1218 734 1778 1800 1148 1803 717 1527 1037 1785 1069 848 1595 622 1116 1448 1650 1539 1580 723 1999 1192 990 1893 1270 1645 2147 1536 1812 1507 674 1771 1500 454 1454 2250 1215 1403 1830 1496 1750 1045 783 912 2071 1640 975 1371 2241 2275

Tong, Hannah Tong, Teddy Toodoi, Munkhzaya Topuz, Sinan Torres Zevallos, Roberto Torres, Adolfo Torres, Carlos Torres, Jose Tostevin, Shelby Toth, John Touchstone, Mason Tournies, Patrice Tran, Bao Tran, Ben Tran, Chi Tran, De Tran, Erica Tran, Joe Tran, Joshua Tran, Khai Tran, Kiet Tran, Linh Bao Tran, Linh Hong Tran, Long Tran, Michael Tran, Michael Tran, Nguyen Tran, Sabrina Tran, Theodore Tran, Thien Tran, Thu Tran, Tiffany Trinh, Hoang Trinh, Raymond Tripp, Brian Triumph, Clyde Trofimov, Michael Troyanovsky, Mitchell Troyer, Nate Trubman, Leonid Truelson, Thor Trumbore, Merr Truong, Cuong (Philip) Truong, Duc Truong, Tuan Trusiewicz, Mike Trykall, David Tryon, Dave Tryon, Eric Tsang, Boris Tsang, Brian Tsang, Peter Tsang, Thomas Tsao, Nai-kuan Tse, Anika Tseng, Ryan Tsitoghdzyan, Tigran Tsung, Julian Tsvor, Sergey Tu, Edmond Tu, Eric Tu, Jinbiao Tu, Joseph Tu, Norman Tu, Truong Manh Tucker, Mel Tuiasosopo, John Tung, Evan Tupas, Alex Turk, Myles Ubry, Ralph Udo-Udoma, Ebiye Uganski, Alex Ukositkul, Nirut Ulich, Thomas Unger, Kenneth Ungson, Nick Utis, David Valdes, Rudy Valdez, Rene Valdez, Santiago Van Dusen, Philip Van Nynatten, Fred Van, Ross Vanderbilt, Drew Vanegas, Jorge Vanmali, Ritesh VanTubbergen, Kathleen VanWagner, Corey VanWright, William Vasilev, Veselin Vasquez, Jerry Vasquez, Jonathan Vasta, Aditya Vaturi, Sharon Vaughan, Doug Vaughn, George Vays, Lev Vaysman, Jonathan Vega, Alberto Veillette, Michael Veillette, Sam Veillette, Steve Vempati, Sri Krishna Vera, Eddy Verbetskiy, Ruslan Verma, Vishesh Vermani, Vivek Verny, Alan Vesel, Richard Vijay, Samudra Villegas, Sergio Vincent, Daryl Virgo, Ernest Vlasic, Brana

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

CA WA CA WA AR CT IN FL CA NC CA CA TN WA WA AZ WA NY PA PA CT TN NY FL OH TX VA NY MI MI NJ NJ NY NY AR NM CA MD MA MD OR IL OR MD NJ GA NJ AZ DC IN NJ VA NY OH OR WI NY WA MD CA MA NY NJ NY FN CA TX VA VA NY CA FN CA CA TX TN MD CA MO AL NY WA VA NY NY MO VA IL MD CA CA WI WI NJ PA PA MD TX AZ TX CA MO VA PA MI MI PA NC IN FL AL WA WI NY VA

763 2225 2072 720 1357 1682 1193 1487 1553 1959 1721 1983 2070 952 1152 1451 966 1055 1731 2239 1406 1489 848 1670 1184 2067 1720 1467 1607 2139 2254 2103 2519 1946 1765 1194 656 2082 1438 531 62 1738 1160 2205 2141 1987 1247 1697 434 1436 1899 1014 658 1133 2257 1615 2528 1733 381 630 2260 2052 1216 2328 2418 209 2589 1151 1717 2454 1667 2547 1823 503 1244 1165 1942 1090 1395 1590 1005 836 333 682 1010 573 1703 1313 2196 2222 2030 1522 1963 1470 1840 1366 1073 1150 1364 1194 1195 931 1436 2272 1516 1381 821 1876 929 1809 1755 1209 615 1768 1708

Vo, Brian Vo, Hung Duy Vo, Quang Vo, Truyen Minh Volpert, Clem Von Kohorn, Jeffrey Vonderau, Kodi Vrahotes, Mark Vu, Howard Vu, Van Vuong, Dean Vuong, Trung Waclawik, Slawomir Waddle, Ken Wakabayashi, Kei Wake, Damon Wakeman, Susan Wald, Aaron Walk, Bill Walk, Michael Walker, Dennis Walker, John Edd Wallace, Kevin Wallace, Roy Walls, Christopher Walsh, Diego Walton, Kevin Wan, Clemens Wan, Wai Hong Wandrei, Paul Wang, Allen Wang, Amy Wang, Can Kevin Wang, Changxin Wang, Cheng Wang, Chengao Wang, Chongyang Wang, Crystal Wang, Darren Wang, David Wang, Franklin Wang, George Wang, Harvey Wang, Heather Wang, Jack Wang, James Wang, Jianxiang Wang, Jinlin Wang, Joyce Wang, Kan Wang, Ke Wang, Kyle Wang, Li Wang, Lin Wang, Maoxi George Wang, Max Wang, Max Qinmin Wang, Mei Wang, Michael Wang, Michael Wang, Michael Wang, Q S Wang, Ray Wang, Rocky Wang, Shuang Wang, Timothy Wang, Timothy Wang, Tony Wang, Xin Wang, XinYue Wang, Yuan Wang, Yutian Wang, Zezheng Wani, Muneeb Watanabe, Kayu Watanabe, Makiko Waters, Julian Watkin, Roger Watkins, Ryan Watts, Edward Wawrzaszek, Zack Wayne, Bob Weber, Christopher Weber, Enno Weber, Leo Weber, Nolan Weber, Ronald Wehrmeister, Roy Wei, Barbara Wei, Kevin Wei, Wesley Weiland, Brian Weiland, Jim Weingarten, Zachary Weinstein, Ken Weiss, Brady Weisz, Adrian Weller, Russell Welsh, Robert Wen, Alison Weng, Dacong West, Eric Westmeyer, Frank Wetzler, John White, Byron White, Walt Whitfield, Marcus Whitmeyer, Michael Wiencek, Timothy Wilcock, Douglas Wilder, David Wilder, Donna Wilkinson, Shawn Williams, Carlos Williams, Charles

OK FL MD NC IN IN PA MO PA TX TX AZ WA NC CA CA NM MD WA IL CA IL IL IL MO AZ OH CA CA NJ WA CA CA NC CA CA CA CA TX CA MO TX MI CA NV FL MN TN CT WI NY OH TX WA CA CA MD MA KS CT PA WA PA NJ CA NY NC NC PA CA PA MD NC TX AL CA TX MS KY NC GA IL NJ NJ OH IL NY IN NV MO CA MN MI NY MI VA CA WA IL MI TX CA CA SC NJ CA WI CA CA IN MS MS GA NJ MA

1035 1410 1899 1266 1303 1599 665 2045 1323 1854 678 2158 1423 1871 574 1090 1653 1366 1834 1840 1045 2023 1670 2306 1510 1444 2156 1051 1327 144 1776 131 1793 1487 1143 2144 1195 846 559 2042 333 1290 565 1547 1628 1559 1285 1493 1858 1919 1474 1692 1743 662 2428 286 1630 299 1503 2061 952 845 476 2571 2663 775 1098 1233 1841 1003 1903 2536 1641 1597 1626 450 1795 2319 1955 1564 1362 1537 1500 1472 1265 2012 1674 1607 1236 2494 1256 504 1433 1509 1498 1014 716 1911 1345 1958 2249 1467 677 1105 139 2103 2065 1514 1922 1113 2341 1650 2069 1635 1693

Williams, Fred Williams, Nahed Willis, Reginald Willis, Steve Willitts, Jim Wilson, Alan Wilson, Daren Wilson, Everton Wilson, Helen Wilson, Jimmy Wilson, Joseph Winkler, Matthew Winnie, Boyd Wintermute, David Winton, Jake Winton, Jeremy Wintrich, Thomas Wirth, Thomas Wishik, Tony Wisniewski, Jacek Witkowski, Walter Wolski, Dariusz Wolski, Michael Wolski, Wojciech Wommack, Brad Wong, Chee Wong, Chen (Robert) Wong, Daniel Wong, Darrell Wong, Donald Wong, Francis Wong, Isaac Wong, Jared Wong, Ka-Kit Wong, Kevin Wong, Michael Wong, Reynold Wong, Robin Wong, Sylvia Wong, Wai Wood, Bud Wood, Jeremy Wood, Rob Woodall, Dustin Workman, Brian Worz, Ian Wottreng, Pete Wright, Allen Wright, Grayson Wruck, Douglas Wtorkowski, Radek Wu, Alan Wu, Bryan Wu, Daniel Wu, Erica Wu, Isaac Wu, Jane Wu, Jesse Wu, Ji Wen Wu, Nathan Wu, Sam Wu, Shuo-Jen(Joseph) Wu, Xiao Kang Wu, Yue Xia, Jiwei Xiao Ren, Ling Xiao, Charles Xiao, Chris Xiao, Claire Xiao, Di Xiao, Geoffrey Xiao, Han Xiao, Jinpeng Xiao, Shang Xiao, Yang Xie, Raymond Xie, Tianming Xie, Zhiqiao Xu, Art Xu, Brian Xu, Leihan Xu, Shiyu Xue, Alexander Xue, Christopher Xue, Yi Yan Xue, Yong Jian Yahel, Sam Yamashita, Mike Yamate, Michael Yamazato, Fernando Yang, Adela Yang, Andrew Yang, Bing Yang, Chang Yang, Charlotte Yang, Daniel Yang, Derek Yang, George Yang, Haohua Yang, Huibin Yang, James Eddie Yang, Jason Yang, Jiang Hong Yang, John Yang, Joseph Yang, Larry Yang, Peter Jie Yang, Won Jae Yang, Xiankun Yang, Yan (Tammy) Yang, Yu Yang, Zijun Yao, Jerry Yao, Kaelan Yao, Norman

NY CA NY IA CA AZ WA OK MI IL FL NY AL NJ AL CA OR NC TX MO GA FL CA CA CA NJ CA PA NY CA NJ OH OH CA CA CO CA CT OH CA CA FL NY MD GA NY OH OH VA CA FL CA CA TX GA TX CA AL OH CA CA OH VA CA MI VA CO CA TX CA PA MI IL TX TX WA IL AR IL MO CA CA MA MA MA TX MD NH CA AR CA IL NY IL CA NY IL CA GA MI NC CA PA MI MD PA NY WV CO IL

1769 975 599 1732 2177 1163 1366 966 1856 1567 1497 1781 1849 2554 1625 1891 1519 1467 1288 1637 1132 1735 871 1489 1317 817 2048 954 1848 1879 861 1959 1797 947 1707 1734 1331 1867 1502 1700 1782 1785 1688 2559 2059 1504 1357 1173 883 2579 1892 122 1895 1932 1780 1487 2311 1861 1017 2502 617 1540 1127 2590 1898 1467 2486 1147 1749 485 1601 1840 2087 1463 717 1978 918 1415 74 1483 1738 2157 2616 1880 1927 677 1547 1493 783 1359 1501 1884 372 540 842 2766 1820 1379 2119 1250 1580 1504 867 1747 1446 1764 906 1780 1159 1398 1998

Yao, William Yap, Paul Yarmak, Igor Yedersberger, Aron Yee, Jordan Yee, Tim Yeh, John Yelavich, Mark Yeotis, Dean Yeung, Cecil Yeung, Ted Yim, Justin Yim, Kil Yin, Peng Yin, Xinhua Yip, Raymond Yoder, Brian Yorgason, Ronald You, Jia Young, Rick Yu, Betty Yu, David Yu, Ken Yu, Kent Yu, Kevin Yu, Leo Yu, Nelson Yu, Normen Yu, Peter Yu, Ronald Yu, Sean Yu, Shing Dat Yu, Shing Yook Yu, Thomas Yu, Tony Yue, Edward Yung, Timothy Zager, Mark Zalany, Nick Zandpour, Frank Zelener, Alexander Zeller, Carlos Zemaitis, Dustin Zeng, Xun Zhang, Albert Zhang, Benjamin Zhang, Bill Zhang, Chunxi Zhang, Daniel Zhang, Di Zhang, Guo Wang (Michael) Zhang, Henrik Zhang, Hong-Zhong Zhang, Jack Zhang, Jason Zhang, Jason Zhang, JinGe Zhang, Kui Zhang, Li Zhang, Lily Zhang, Lin Zhang, Lipeng Zhang, Reed Zhang, Weijian Zhang, Wenwen Zhang, Xiaoxun Zhang, Yahao Zhang, Yicheng Zhang, Yukong Zhao, David Zhao, Ethan Zhao, Hang Zhao, Junduo Zhao, Kelly Zhao, Michael Zhao, Michael Zhao, Michael Zhao, Wei Zhao, Williams Zhao, Yongyu Zhao, Yueyi (Emily) Zhen, Yong Long Zheng, Jiaqi Zheng, Liansheng (Eric) Zheng, Long Zheng, Luke Zheng, Michael (Youqun) Zheng, Robert Zheng, Yifei Zhou, Dong Yong Zhou, Guangxu Zhou, Nancy Zhou, Rachel Zhou, Sally Zhou, Sarah Zhou, Xin Zhou, Zhenmo Zhu, Linda Zhuang, Jian Zhuo, Evan Zilberman, Roman Zimmerman, Logan Ziyalan, Christopher Zombori, Peter Zou, Gang Zou, Kaylee Zozulya, Arthur Zubatov, Alexander Zuniga, Royce Zwisler, Ross Zyworonek, Arkadiusz

Paddle Palace Presents the

USATT Tournament schedule *For the most up to date list of tournaments please visit http://www.usatt.org/events/tournaments.shtml

ICC California State Open, Milpitas, CA, 5/25/2012 - 5/27/2012, RajulSheth, 510-299-1253, 3 Star

12th Everbright-BIT Cup Open Table Tennis Championship, Edison, NJ, 6/16/2012, Jean Sze, 732-329-3245, 1 Star

Connecticut Open, Shelton, CT, 5/26/2012 - 5/27/2012, Roman Tinyszin, 860-416-5299, 3 Star

2012 Brooklyn Boro President’s Cup, Brooklyn, NY, 6/16/2012 6/17/2012, Michael Henry, 516-698-3538, 2 Star

America’s Team Championships, Rockford, IL, 5/26/2012 5/27/2012, Edward Hogshead, 815-965-8505, 4 Star

So. FL/SFTTO NewgyRobo Pong US Op Warm Up, Dania Beach, FL, 6/22/2012 - 6/24/2012, TereseTerranova, 954-695-3218, 4 Star

Maryland Giant RR, Eldersburg, MD, 5/26/2012, Yvonne Kronlage, 410-489-7291, 0 Star

MVTTC 2012 Summer Smash III, Utica, NY, 6/23/2012, Richard DeVenazia, 315-351-6774, 2 Star

Trolley Car Table Tennis Club May 2012 Philly Giant RR, Philadelphia, PA, 5/26/2012, Bruce Crawley, 215-297-9335, 1 Star

2012 Austin Summer Table Tennis Tournament, Austin, TX, 6/23/2012 - 6/24/2012, Kenneth Beauchamp, 512-491-7664, 2 Star

Robopong May 2012 Broward TTC Open, Dania Beach, FL, 5/26/2012 - 5/27/2012, Carlos Zeller, 954-849-5436, 1 Star

2012 NNTTC JOOLA Open, Newport News, VA, 6/23/2012 6/24/2012, Dan Barrett, 757-729-2335, 2 Star

Meiklejohn North American Seniors Open, Laguna Woods, CA, 5/31/2012 - 6/3/2012, Craig Krum, 909-227-0822, 4 Star

Infogix Aurora Open, Aurora, IL, 6/23/2012, Slawomir Lorenc, 630-978-7658, 1 Star

2012 Aloha State Games, Honolulu, HI, 6/2/2012-6/3/2012, Rick Livermore, 808-222-0420, 0 Star

Summer Sooner State Games, Oklahoma City, OK, 6/23/2012, Britt Salter, 405-306-7227, 0 Star

Maryland Circuit, Eldersburg, MD, 6/2/2012, Yvonne Kronlage, 410-489-7291, 0 Star

Trolley Car Table Tennis Club Philly June 2012, Philadelphia, PA, 6/23/2012 - 6/24/2012, Ken Weinstein, 215-247-5555, 1 Star

Texas Wesleyan Open, Fort Worth, TX, 6/2/2012 - 6/3/2012, Jasna Rather, 817-531-7555, 1 Star

California State Open, Santa Monica, CA, 6/23/2012 - 6/24/2012, Ichiro Hashimoto, 310-434-4315, 2 Star

2012 Eastern Open on JOOLA North America Tour, Piscataway, NJ, 6/2/2012 - 6/3/2012, NATT, 301-816-0660, 4 Star

2011 DSP Cup / NYTTF Open Series, New York, NY, 6/24/2012, Robert Chen, 646-772-2922, 1 Star

Mid FL Tour - Ocala Open, Ocala, FL, 6/2/2012, Frank Valliant, 352-314-2530, 1 Star

2012 US Open, Grand Rapids, MI, 6/30/2012 - 7/4/2012, Joyce Grooms, 719-866-3263, 5 Star

Atlanta Spring Open, Norcross, GA, 6/2/2012 - 6/3/2012, Wendell Dillon, 770-923-5110, 2 Star

2012 Washington Table Tennis Open Tournament, Centreville, VA, 6/30/2012, Jay Park, 703-944-8819, 2 Star

June MCCC RR Open, Cary, NC, 6/2/2012, Mike Babuin, 919601-1914, 0 Star

Mid-Florida Tour - Lakeland July Classic Open, Lakeland, FL, 7/13/2012 - 7/14/2012, Raymond Spann, 352-750-4286, 2 Star

1st Cape Fear Open, Fayetteville, NC, 6/9/2012, Richard Perez, 631-682-3446, 0 Star

LYTTC July Open, Dunellen, NJ, 7/14/2012 - 7/15/2012, Lily Yip, 732-200-5820, 2 Star

Missouri Show Me State Games Open, Springfield, MO, 6/9/2012, William Lewis, 417-890-8092, 0 Star

Maryland Circuit, Eldersburg, MD, 7/14/2012, Yvonne Kronlage, 410-489-7291, 0 Star

2012 Indy Giant RR and Two Man Teams, Indianapolis, IN, 6/9/2012 - 6/10/2012, Robert Clyde, 317-791-9704, 1 Star

July MCCC RR Open, Cary, NC, 7/14/2012, Mike Babuin, 919601-1914, 0 Star

Pensacola’s 12th Annual Summer Open, Pensacola, FL, 6/9/2012, L.A. Johnston, 850-791-3979, 1 Star 2012 Rose City Open, Beaverton, OR, 6/9/2012 - 6/10/2012, Bruce Bayley, 503-246-9514, 2 Star LYTTC June Open, Dunellen, NJ, 6/9/2012 - 6/10/2012, Lily Yip, 732-200-5820, 2 Star June Westchester Table Tennis Open, Pleasantville, NY, 6/9/2012 6/10/2012, Robert Roberts, 914-498-0464, 3 Star Maryland Giant RR, Eldersburg, MD, 6/16/2012, Yvonne Kronlage, 410-489-7291, 0 Star Florida Sunshine State Games Open, Lakeland, FL, 6/16/2012 6/17/2012, Raymond Spann, 352-750-4286, 0 Star

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Play your game.

spin all speed www.pongsquad.com

e tennis competition 11/12 facebook.com/adidastabletennis DISTRIBUTOR OFFICIAL

Featuring a full line of professional equipment. Including shoes, blades and rubbers.

PRO-LINE TABLE TENNIS

Summer Special!

www

Find everything you need to make your summer pong more fun at pongsquad.com and save an extra 10% when you use the code below! As an added bonus, we are still offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders right now, so you’ll save even more!

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

Enter the code “summerpong” at checkout to apply the discount Effective May 1st - June 30th

My Goal - Breaking 2000 If you are holding this magazine in your hands, chances are you are a competitive player. If I guessed correctly, I would like to know whether you have asked yourself a few very simple questions. What is your goal in table tennis? Certainly everyone would like to improve and play better, but do we really put in enough effort in planning in order to achieve our goals? Yes we train, but do we train enough? Do we train properly? Do we train our minds and put in enough thought into how we need to play our game? I have been asking myself these questions since my very first competition. My goals were modest before I attended a tournament. I simply wanted to be a better player, but after experiencing competition and witnessing some fantastic players playing, I wanted to become the best player in my club. I picked up the paddle quite late in my life at 28 years of age. Yet, despite all of the daily routine with the family, work, and various errands, table tennis became a significant part of my life. I was magically enchanted by table tennis and wanted to improve. The question was how? This is where I was fortunate enough to have found a great coach. He helped me learn the basics and began to shape my game enabling me to win. He showed me how to win! Training hard and playing many tournament matches, I quickly climbed through the ranks from

1200 to 1400, then on to 1600, 1800 and finally reaching the highly sought-after mark of USATT 2000. It took me two years and four months of relentless training and competition. For me, it was the biggest highlight in table tennis to date. There are no words that can express the feeling of accomplishment when you finally reach a goal that you have been dreaming of attaining. In table tennis, with so many skills one needs to master, it is undoubtedly a very difficult task. As I was training, I had many questions. I also had many revelations along the way, learning how to play the game and learning to win. There is a common quote “You don’t know what you don’t know”, which means that as time goes on you will learn new things you did not know about. Certainly, I am forever grateful to my coach for his knowledge of the game and everything he taught me. Other revelations came from other sources - books, articles, training, and playing the game itself. I decided to write a book describing my experience in training and competing so it would serve as a guide to any aspiring player. This is not a book on technique, this is a road map. It is a memoir and a tutorial in one. This is the book that I wish I had an access to when I began playing table tennis. It is a book that will help you break plateaus, map out new goals, and give you assurance that with hard work, you can achieve your dreams.

"I highly recommend this book to all of the beginners and developing players. I feel that every beginner in table tennis and every table tennis player that is struggling to improve through the intermediate levels of table tennis should read this book at least twice." -- Coach Gerald Reid "I really love this book! Many great nuggets of solid info are to be found within the pages." -- Sean O'Neill, Two-time member, U.S. Olympic Team "This book is a first-hand step-by-step look at the strategic development of a player from near beginner to an advanced level. Instructional books generally teach how to do each technique; this book shows the actual events taking place as the techniques were learned, how they were learned, and most important, why." -- Larry Hodges, USATT Hall of Famer and National Coach

Available in eBook or Paperback on www.breaking2000.com or look for it on Amazon. Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

BOBROW

Filipin-pong

Photo by Shaw Vistaa

Filipin-pong! by Citizen of Earth, spouse of Table Tennis, Adam “Pinoy B-Boy” Bobrow In the world of show business and stand up comedy, sometimes it’s tough to be on right after a show or an act that blew everybody’s mind. Vietnam was a tough act to follow. How on EARTH could The Philippines out do Vietnam? Forget “out do” how could it possibly be even close to as much fun as Vietnam? Well, I arrived in the airport and thanks to online dating, had a friend waiting for me at the airport. But after helping me get set with a phone, she had to leave me at the mall and head back to work. In the mall, I had several hours to notice that waving at people in Manila malls didn’t seem to have quite the same impact as it did in Vietnam. I sat for hours on my computer wondering how much of my trip was going to be spent stationary in front of my computer. Right about that time, I was contacted by table tennis super power, the lihador, international traveler, national TT hero and fanatic, Peter Cua. From the dullest of moments, arose the least dull person and his trusty sidekick/buddy, a former collegiate TT player, George Ang to liven things up. These guys took care of me like you would NOT BELIEVE! I was blushing when I was shown where I would be staying. I don’t want to bore you with details about having my own floor in a four-story mansion with my own table tennis table outside my room… between my personal kitchen (fully stocked) and my karaoke room or how there were livein cooks, personal massage therapists and drivers… the coolest kids anyone could want to hang out with just the

floor below me, and more. I won’t bore you with that… because I care about you… and those are just materials… except for the kids… they had feelings. I was blushing at the overwhelming offers made by what would become my Filipino Family. I guess they had seen some of my table tennis videos on youtube and took a liking to me (or felt bad for me and gave me a place to stay). At the butt crack of dawn, Don, a table tennis buddy of mine from LA who was raised in The Philippines, met me at the airport for some island hopping. Don and I saw water bluer than any shirt I own (which is REALLY impressive). The people were as nice as could be and everyone seemed to have a great sense of humor… and since English was everywhere, I had an easy time ordering fresh fruit shakes on my own. The islands were so much fun that I didn’t play table tennis for an entire WEEK!!!!! Even through injuries I can’t usually resist THAT long… so you KNOW it’s gotta be RIDICULOUSLY fun out there. After a week of some of the prettiest places I have ever seen on this planet, I returned to city life in Manila just in time to think about napping, and then to go speak at the Rotary Club in Manila on behalf of table tennis and Liha in The Philippines With George and Peter as tour guides, the next week would be one that I’ll never forget. From playing exhibitions at the best college in The Philippines (UP) against all of their present team players (thanks, Oskie), to going to local TT clubs and shopping for TT clothes even cheaper than in Vietnam (I found dri-fit shirts in Vietnam for $4… and in Manila, some dri-fit shirts for less than $3 a piece) I was like a kid in a candy shop. I was even introduced to Alvin Carranza, a table tennis fanatic that owns an AWESOME restaurant called Café Lupe that has the best view of Manila I had ever seen and had a table tennis table to play on over-looking the entire city as the sun set. From the help of all of these new friends and fellow table tennis fanatics, I even got the chance to play the #1 and #2 players in The Philippines. They were both much stronger than me but made sure I had a great time playing with them. I felt like everywhere I went in the Philippines, people were always doing everything they could to make sure I was having the time of my life… even if they were complete strangers. And they succeeded. I can’t WAIT to go back. I guess there’s a reason that the country’s slogan is “It’s more fun in… The Philippines”… they’re honest. I know I would’ve had a lot of fun there anyway, but at times like this, I still can’t BELIEVE how big of a role table tennis has played in my life. Thanks for loving me back, table tennis. 8>D

*enjoy the video footage of this trip on youtube by seaching “Asia 2012 (Adam Bobrow)” 74

USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

TIM BOGGAN

IN HIS OWN WORDS

2011 Hall of Fame Inductee

JIM McQUEEN

Photo by Steve Hopkins

By Tim Boggan, USATT Historian

I didn’t know Jim McQueen in the mid-1960’s when he had his club in the Pullen Park Armory at North Carolina State, but later I did come down from New York to play at the Lions Park Rec Center, his home base in Raleigh. By this time he’d been liberated from the National Guard and his individuality was quickly, quirkily noted by me and any number of others. In early January, 1972, he won back-to-back tournaments—most important of which was his win in the finals of the A’s over future many-time Michigan Champ Mike Veillette. Jim was then a mechanical engineer into design and construction. He made his own balsa-wood racket, and to give him “more control” he was said to have rubber-banded a couple dozen popsicle sticks round the handle. Strange, huh? And did he eat all those couple dozen popsicles at one sitting? Years pass and by now Jim has a reputation as a player with a style all his own. At the Oct. 28, 1978 Butterfly Club in Wilson, N.C., Tom Poston tells us that, against Fred King, Larry Hodges played great, “was so pumped up that we were considering using tranquilizer darts on him. Anyway, exit the King, stunned and dejected. But what Fred couldn’t do with power, Jimmy-theKid McQueen did with craft and cunning”—he slipped by Larry in four…Then he “generally pushed, dinked, angled, junked, and looped (well, occasionally), downing his friend Pete May in the process, and psyched his way into the finals to lose 19-in-the-fourth to future Hall of Famer Brian Masters. Later, at the T.T. Jamboree in Augusta’s Regency Mall, Mark Gibson wrote that “Jim McQueen caused a mild sensation by beating Pete May. Up 1-0 but down 14-6 in the second, Jim ran 14 straight. Then he went on to beat Larry Thoman and Scott McDowell. In addition to his usual pushing and blocking slow-down tactics, Jim turned the match and the Championship his way by repeated lobbing. The 1980’s came in with the $4,000 Butterfly Open held at Bowie Martin’s club. It was televised locally on Channel 6 and nationally by ESPN. The game-by-game announcing was done by Rich Brenner, Sportscaster for WRAL, assisted by Jim’s sometime rival as well as on occasion his winning Two-Man Team partner Steve Hitchner. Naturally, Jim and Pete, introduced by Bowie’s wife Melba, were prepared to dramatize their TV participation. Eyed carefully by Sheriff Wendell Dillon and Deputy Cyril Lederman, Pete went off to his first match against San Francisco Junior Dean Wong wearing a little, gailycovered golf umbrella—you know, the kind that stays upright on your head-band—and a big fake nose, and bushy eyebrows. Jim, watching him, was visibly hidden (like Claude Raines in that famous ‘Invisible Man” flick in the 1930’s) in some sort of head-covering cowl tucked in around huge, dark aviator goggles. He looked really scary, especially considering he had draped crisscross about him in bad USA TABLE TENNIS MAGAZINE • May/Jun 2012

bandito fashion heavy Zapata-like cartridge belts. However, neither Pete nor Jim, even with a heads-up quick change to their gorilla masks, could scare up enough points to win any money this tournament. Never mind, the dastardly duo were obviously having such a costumed good time that others wanted to join them—and thus was born the infamous Boo’s Brothers gang, most notably among them Bill Brown, Alan Fendrick, Ray Mack, Pete May, Jim McQueen, and Dell Sweeris. And with them came an assortment of masks, wigs, hats, and colorful outfits that were the talk of many a tournament. “If it wasn’t for fun,” Jim once said, “there’d be nothing else to do at a tournament.” One Fourth of July U.S. Open, Jim arrived on Finals Night in his Uncle Sam costume—top hat, shirt, flag-draped sleeves, and striped pants. When the National Anthem was played I couldn’t see the U.S. flag, so hand on my heart I saluted Jim. Even when McQueen wasn’t present, as at a Wilson, NC Open when he was off on an assignment for ESPN, pursuing his job as an off-color colorman, his presence was comradely felt. As if outdoing even Jim with a good-humored quip, one tournament-goer (can I call him a disciple?) said, “A tournament without McQueen is like a day without prune juice.” There—you can’t get more affectionate than that. As you may already have noted from the poster board I’ve constructed for McQueen on this Hall of Fame occasion, Jim has been a “Renaissance Man” in table tennis. He’s served the Association as both President and VicePresident, as Local Coordinator for the Olympic Festival, ESPN announcer, USATT Publications Advisor, as Coach, Referee, Umpire, indefatigable Player, Boo’s Brothers Humorist—and, above all, as a longtime friend to me and many others. To sum up: perhaps no other U.S. Official/Player has enlivened the Table Tennis “scene” for decades as this man has. So it’s no joke that I, that we, welcome him into our Hall tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen, Jim McQueen.

460 pages

History of U.S. Table Tennis Volume XII Now Available! • www.timboggantabletennis.com

83 pho 7 tos

Volume XII Front Cover Photos

Volumes I through XII Available Vol. I Vol. II Vol. III Vol. IV Vol. V* Vol. VI

(1928-39, 375 pages, 215 photos) (1940-52, 395 pages, 320 photos) (1953-62, 450 pages, 400 photos) (1963-70, 460 pages, 700 photos) (1971-72, 282 pages, 400 photos) (1970-73, 500 pages, 800 photos)

Vol. VII Vol. VIII Vol. IX Vol. X Vol. XI Vol. XII

(1973-75, 530 pages, 820 photos) (1975-77, 512 pages, 836 photos) (1977-79, 503 pages, 810 photos) (1979-81, 535 pages, 820 photos) (1979-81, 535 pages, 820 photos) (1983, 460 pages, 837 photos)

*Covers the Ping-Pong Diplomacy Years

“How can any serious table tennis player not buy these books?” -Larry Hodges, USATT Hall of Famer Send check or money order for $40* per book (or $400* for all 12), and send and make payable to: Tim Boggan, 12 Lake Ave., Merrick, NY 11566 Please allow three weeks for delivery. *Includes shipping and handling Name_________________________________________________________ Street Address___________________________________________________ City/State/Zip___________________________________________________ Email_____________________________Phone________________________

Circle Volumes Ordered Vol. I

Vol. II

Vol. III

Vol. IV

Vol. V

Vol. VI

Vol. VII

Vol. VIII

Vol. IX

Vol. X

Vol. XI

Vol. XII

All Twelve!

Visit the new website: http://tabletennis.teamusa.org

Congratulations Olympic-Bound STIGA Players

GO USA!

Timothy Wang

Ariel Hsing

Lily Zhang

PaddlePalace.com P 8 0 0 - 5 4 7 - 5 8 9 1

Paddle Palace: North American Sole Distributor for STIGA