A Light Touch
Table tennis keeps a club on its toes.
Photo: Chris Richards
In the world of athletics, many see table tennis as dainty compared to other sports. Yet there is nothing dainty in the sub-second time it takes the ball to cross the nine-foot table, nor in the force behind each strike that sends it zipping away.
Valentina Ayala, a University of Arizona student working toward a degree in psychology, says that many underestimate the rigor of table tennis. “People play around for fun, but when you really get into it, good athletics are just as needed as in any other sport.”
Other members of the table tennis club agree. To them, table tennis is a more powerful sport than people give it credit for, requiring a solid combination of offense and defense that forms each player’s unique style.
Wei Chen Zhang, an officer of the U of A table tennis club, was introduced to the sport when he was 11 years old. As a result of his extensive table tennis experience, he says he understands an opponent’s personality by observing their playing style.
“I think play style is based on your personality,” says Zhang, who is earning his doctorate in metabolism and diseases at the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness in the nutritional sciences graduate program. “For instance, my personality is more introverted, and during matches I always play conservatively.”
Chris Richards
Quick reaction times are also a must when it comes to the sport. Vinyas Bhat, a mechanical engineering and mathematics major, compares table tennis to tennis, which he grew up playing. “In tennis, you’re on a 60-foot court. It takes time for the ball to get back and forth. In table tennis, it’s like that,” he says, snapping his fingers to emphasize the speed of the ball’s flight across the table.
Ayala comments on the perspective gained from one of the teachings of the club’s head coach Arnaud Salvador, a table tennis player of 12 years with coaching and referee experience: As fast as table tennis can be, there are times in the sport when one needs to slow down and assess.
“It’s a matter of offense and defense, and that’s what I really like about it,” Ayala says. “Everyone is their own player and has their own style.”
There is much more to table tennis than striking with an abundance of force. Salvador also teaches techniques for hitting the ball, emphasizing good technique as one of the most important components of the sport.
Vasu Kedia, an electrical and computer engineering major, has played soccer for 10 years and added rock climbing to his athletic repertoire in the last two. Yet the technique required in table tennis has created a new challenge for him. “A lot of other sports I’ve played, I was able to brute force my way through due to my athleticism. In table tennis, I’ve started a lot lower than I would have because I’m not used to the technique of holding a racket,” he says.
Bhat agrees. “You’re hitting a ball that’s going very quickly and trying to aim it very precisely into a small area. You need consistent technique.”
In addition to teaching club members his own technique, Salvador shares videos of table tennis professionals to introduce a variety of play styles. This helps club members learn varied techniques they can experiment with in their matches.
Using new techniques requires dedicated practice. “I feel like we watch a video, and we say, ‘This looks really easy,’” Zhang says. “But we have to put a lot of effort into each movement. It takes a long time and can be challenging, because you have to be patient.”
Finding the middle ground between power and technique teaches the team balance. It’s a lesson that translates to their daily lives, reminding them to take time and engage with all aspects of life and develop in a well-rounded manner.
Chris Richards
“As much as you want to be a super-strong player and win through brute force, that’s not the entire game. Just like with school, it isn’t the entirety. You have your personal life, your social life,” Ayala says. “You can’t go 100% in one aspect, otherwise you’ll be underdeveloped in other places.”
Alongside their passion for the sport, the community and positive energy of the club are what draw members to each meeting. Ayala fondly thinks about how the laughs shared between members contribute to her commitment to the club.
“As much as the word ‘club’ can be intimidating, this is a very grounded space,” she says. “It’s a place for people to enjoy themselves; it’s a place to improve. It’s a place to do a lot of things and have different dynamics with everyone. It’s an opportunity to connect with people athletically.”
To that end, members of the club welcome anyone interested in playing table tennis with open arms — no prior experience required.
Every month, the club hosts an unofficial table tennis tournament open to all, regardless of their skill level. The tournaments create excitement and are an opportunity for players to test their skills and growth.
“I love it in the same way I loved tennis tournaments as a kid,” Bhat says. “It’s an opportunity to test yourself against yourself.”
To learn more about the table tennis club’s activities, visit their Instagram page: @ua_tabletennis.