Column: A tale of table tennis

Dr Tom Ferraro

As Malcolm Glladwell once wrote that you can tell a lot about a person in just the blink of an eye.

This was evident to me the first time I spoke with Yuxiang Li, the owner and head coach of the New York International Table Tennis Center in Flushing.

Despite being considered one of the world’s foremost table tennis coaches his manner was open, humble and kind as we spoke over the phone.

There was not even the slightest trace of narcissism in his voice. I had known for years that Flushing was an enclave for table tennis prodigies and I felt it was high time to take the trip into Flushing and meet one of the best table

Yuxiang Li teaching a young prodigy some of the tricks on the trade in table tennis. (Photo provided by Tom Ferraro

tennis players in the world.

As I made my way along Northern Boulevard I observed all the hustle and bustle of Flushing and thought about all the other talent that this little town held.

If you want world class Korean BBQ or the best dim sum go to Flushing. If you want to eat at the most beautiful tea house in New York go to the Rose Tea House.

If you want to be taught by one of the world’s best ball room dancers (Jennifer Zhu) you will have to go to Flushing. There are many diamonds in the rough along the busy streets of Flushing.

Armed with this knowledge, I parked my car on Farington Street and made my way to the NY International Table Tennis Center on 35th Street.

When i walked into the place there was the master himself, Yuxiang Li, patiently teaching a young Chinese boy the secrets of producing a killer spin on his serve.

As I watched him give the lesson I wondered why the Chinese have dominated table tennis for so long.

During our interview he told me that table tennis required a high level concentration, quick reflexes and a delicate feel since the ball was so light. In fact it weighs 2.7 grams compared to a golf ball which weighs 46 grams.

He pointed out that although table tennis is popular in Asia and Europe, it has not taken hold in America. He said that Americans are more attracted to basketball, football, hockey and baseball, all those aggressive power sports.

I remember playing table tennis as a kid in our basement for many hours against my older brother and was surprised to hear Mr. Li say that it had not been embraced by U.S. kids. I used to work out at a gym at the Omni Fitness Center where I met a young American who was training for the Olympics in table tennis.
I think the only reason table tennis has not caught on in the US is because television has not supported it yet. Sure we saw Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump smashing all those ping pongs into that white bed pan. But that is about it as far as median attention.
Mr. Li is the 1996 and 1998 World Senior Champion and has gone on to coach teams in Sweden, Germany, Japan and Denmark.

In other word he has major league credentials.

So if you have a kid who is still looking for a sport to fall in love with or if you are sick to death of that baseball coach who is screaming at your ten year old and making him cry perhaps you ought to think about table tennis.

It’s a sport that is still relatively new to America so it wont cost you a small fortune to get your kid involved with. In other words it has not as of yet been monetized.
Get in on the ground floor. Most high schools do have table tennis teams.

You can buy your family a ping pong table and if you begin see real talent you can even get lessons by a world champion.

And better yet as your kid takes his or her lesson you can walk down the street and have yourself the best Korean BBQ on earth. And then you will be driving back home with a full stomach, cash in your pocket and a smile on your face.

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