Hamber’s Table Tennis Team Makes a Return in 2024

Photo Credit: Ellie Jin

Hamber’s Table Tennis team is back up and running this year. After a pause, players and coaches are now together and playing once again.

Elva Zhou (11), a member of the Table Tennis team for around three months, revealed that the current coach, Coach Yan, brought the idea of a table tennis team to the PE department. It was then approved and tryouts were soon established. Justin Liao (12), captain of the team, said that the team got together and bonded very well. With practices once a week, they were able to learn about each other while playing and in their free time.

“I think my main goals are to get first for our school in the teams and doubles event in the upcoming provincials this year in March, as well as to make friends and promote table tennis in our school,” said Liao.

Amy Zuo (8), a member of the team said, “One of my goals includes gaining more competition experience. I do have some, but I don't believe it’s enough to secure provincial wins.” She also shared that being a part of the team vastly benefits her sociability, exposure to new play styles, and technique.

“As the captain of the table tennis team, our biggest goal was to try and win the banner. Unfortunately the boys fell short in some games which didn’t allow us to qualify for the finals. However, our girls team has made it to the finals coming up this year, meaning we will place either first or second,” Liao said.

Zhou also described what a usual table tennis practice looks like after setting up in the cafeteria. “We first warm up with rallies, then continue to improve specific areas that we each lack in,” she says. “Rather than all of us training in the same area, it’s different for each of us.” 

“During practice, we practice forehand, backhand, and alternating shots. After, we play a few games of singles with different partners, finally concluding with doubles practice,” Liao said.

The two names for the sport that are commonly used are “ping pong” and “table tennis”, and the team members have different perspectives on its meanings. 

“Ping pong refers to only the recreational ‘for funsies’ type activity, while table tennis is the professional approach—an official sport—and involves strategies, technique, and timing,” said Zhou. He explained that people commonly disregard table tennis as an actual sport as they’ve only had exposure to the simple, community centre playstyle. 

“I highly recommend people watch actual table tennis—it’s no joke!” said Zhou. “Since I am seriously trained, I prefer using [the term] ‘table tennis’ all the way. Ping pong generally sounds goofy too.”

Zuo, on the other hand, does not hold the same strong opinion. She says that there's not really a big difference between the two names. 

“Ping pong is more universal and table tennis is the official term for the sport.” Liao also agrees that ping pong is a fun, entertaining way to refer to table tennis, and table tennis is a more professional way of talking about the sport. “I call it by either name and don’t really have an opinion on which name is said. I prefer to call it ping pong but my teammates always get upset with me whenever I say it.” 

The table tennis team sponsor, Mr. Gibson (Physical Education), also feels that table tennis is the formal way of talking about the sport, “I feel like table tennis sounds more official [...] When people say they're playing ping pong, to me that sounds like they're just slapping the ball around.” 

Liao shared what for him was the most difficult part of playing table tennis. “I come from a background in advanced pickleball so it was hard for me to understand how soft the ball had to be hit and spin was an important factor of the game in order to be a successful player.”

Mr. Gibson, whose role is to make sure everything is set up, including early dismissals and rides and proper schedules, says he admires watching the members play. 

“I don’t like administrative tasks at all. The thing I like is the times I have been able to watch them; they’re unbelievable,” Mr. Gibson said. “The coach is really amazing too, she is a high level table tennis player that really knows what she's doing. It's always cool to watch people that are skilled at things share that with someone else.”