How Table Tennis Improved My Life

Discovering the Beauty of this Sport

Not a Medium member? Read it here.

Yes, table tennis is a sport.

When I was younger, I often engaged in debates where table tennis was compared to chess. This sport is slow if you don’t know how to play it. Just because you occasionally play at a table in a park or community center doesn’t mean you know how to play.

People would often tell me they knew how to play because they had held a table tennis racket a few times in their lives. That used to offend me because I believe they only had a superficial view of the sport. Table tennis is much more. Especially for someone like me who spent almost every evening during elementary and high school in the sports hall.

First Love

I was only 5 years old when I first stood by the table and “played.” My father had been actively playing all his life and started taking me to halls when I was still a child. I fell in love immediately, and that love continues to this day.

Table Tennis is My Superpower

I joined a club in my hometown, played for the second and third leagues, competed in school competitions, and so on. When I enrolled in college in another city, I discovered a recreational association and started playing in the amateur league.

At first, I was part of the women’s association, but there were only two leagues, and it wasn’t challenging enough for me. There are usually around 20 men’s leagues each year, with about ten teams playing matches against each other. The best teams within each league move up a league, while the worst ones drop to lower leagues. Fortunately, women are allowed to play within the men’s league, so in all the other years, I preferred to play in the men’s league. Besides matches between leagues, various tournaments with appropriate prizes are regularly organized.

Matches are organized twice a year — in autumn and spring — and last for several months. Each team mostly consists of 3 to 5 players and must have its playing area. So, each team hosts for one week, and the next week they go play as a visiting team. Over the years, I’ve changed several teams, and regardless of which league I played in, it was always interesting, dynamic, instructive, and fun.

The whole concept of the association amazed me because it provides health, recreation, and socializing. By nature, I am quite introverted, but in table tennis halls, I truly feel at home, and such socializing fulfills me and makes me immensely happy.

Benefits this Sport Brought to My Life

Self-confidence — I have never had more self-confidence anywhere else than at the table tennis table; I found something I’m good at, which gave me a sense of satisfaction.

Competitive spirit that I applied to other aspects of life, which had a positive effect on my life.

Meeting new people — through the game, I met many good people, some of whom became my good friends.

Thanks to networking through sports, I found a job at a company where I spent 7 years.

Physical and mental health — I think it doesn’t need further explanation how much engaging in sports contributes here.

A few more facts about the benefits of this sport

When professionally engaged in this sport, up to 500 calories are burned per match.

Reflexes, balance, and coordination improve.

In addition to legs, abdominal muscles, forearm muscles, biceps, shoulders, triceps, stabilizing muscles (rhomboids and middle trapezoids) are activated.

There is a slight risk of injury, impact, or fall.

It slows down the processes of cognitive function decline, making it ideal for the elderly population.

It has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.

It is great for all age groups, promoting unity, communication, and collegiality.

Do you engage in any sports that fulfill you? I’d love to hear what your superpower is.