ping pong table: Table tennis draws players of all ages

7/8/2006 12:28 PM
By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina


CHARLOTTE -- It's not the ping-pong you played in your basement. The U.S. Open table tennis championships wrap up Saturday night at the Charlotte Convention Center, and for its participants, the game is much more than a hobby.

Tim Boggan has written six volumes on the history of table tennis that spans back to the first tournament in 1923. The game now reaches more than 200 countries and players of all ages.

“We have a guy playing here that’s 86 years old,” Boggan said. “We have a guy who’ll actually be 90 next year and he plays well.”

Table tennis is not just for older players. There are plenty of kids hoping to walk out with some prize money. Michael Landers, 11, says he learned to play from his father.

“He got a ping-pong table at the house, and when I was really small … I used to hit a lot,” he said.

In all, $50,000 in prize money will be awarded.