Oh No! This is not a review about the movie called ‘Balls Of Fury’. I have seen that movie, yet to find some time to write a review. Here, I’m talking about a Table Tennis Tournament that happen every year for senior players who are above the age 50. This world famous – probably you might have not heard – tournament takes place in the state of Utah in the United States every October – this year this took place between October 8 and 11. The place is called St.George, a beautiful place of retired communities. The red cliffs, dry weather and not so bad winter make this place a beautiful place to live. St.George is 2 hours of drive from Las Vegas, the capital of casinos in the United States. I live in Utah, and St.George is 4 hours drive from the city where I live in. The director of this tournament is a friend of mine, and a club mate Mr.Grant Misbatch – he was featured in the latest USATT Magazine recently. If you eve plan to come to this tournament, you can take a flight to Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, and from there, you can travel by a rented car or take a bus to St.George.
The pictures can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/tabletennisnetwork/HustmanSeniorGames2007
I visited the Dixie Convention Center where the games took place on the final day. I think I was not disappointed to see some actions. There were so many familiar faces that I see in tournaments like US Open and US National. I met players from Germany, other parts of Europe and United States. The Chinese players who every one feared have not come for the tournament. The facility and set up are very good. There may be a like 25-50 tables for various rated events, and the atmosphere of a completion is ringing in the whole building. Suddenly, I heard screaming from one table where the team won the doubles tournament. Isn’t that exciting?
Many young players complain that they hate playing against chicken wing players. I saw many chicken wing players in the tournament. I assume few reasons behind the chicken wing style of play. Their health is part of that – they can’t move because of injuries. They are also cautious players – they don’t want to miss points as young players rush and miss.
There is a lesson I learnt after attending this tournament. The golden rule I’ve learned is that love the game of table tennis whole heartedly and keep the sportsman spirit. Alas, the players who played for the first place in the high rated event have both received yellow cards. The match was between Bill Ryan and Bill U. Bill is a 2050 rated player and Bill U is a 2000 rated player. Both use long pips on the back hand, and inverted on the forehand. Both of them defended the opponent’s shorts except occasional punch shorts. The last game was so interesting for all the spectators. Bill Ryan was leading like 8-6. Bill U goes to the side of the table to wipe out feet after each point – to really plan his strategy. After this happening, Bill Ryan was frustrated and he started doing the same thing. The umpire was watching both the players actions, finally gave yellow card to both the players. Unfortunately Bill Ryan lost the match. After the match I met with Bill Ryan and told him that it was not a wise decision to follow what Bill U did . Bill Ryan disagreed with me, but I think his actions lead his loss to Bill U.
These kinds of incidents happen at any tournament. It is okay if your opponent waste time by wandering around – there is umpire to monitor the match. Any kind of mental pressure your opponent can force on you will lead to failures sometimes. Another lesson learned from the senior players today!
Results:
Table tennis results from the Hunstsman World Senior Games that took place in St. George, Utah on October 8-11th, 2007.
Men’s Singles
Men 50-54
Gold, Mark Davis, Baltimore, MD
Silver, Borko Dragojlvic, Santee, CA
Bronze, Vladmir Sharg, Carmichael, CA
Men 55-59
Gold, Ray Mack, Rochester, NY
Silver, Lonnie Dean, Seal Beach, CA
Bronze, Armin Lippenberger, Pforzheim, Germany
Men 60-64
Gold, Karl-Josef Assenmacher, Hurth, Germany
Silver, Danny Nasi, Temple City, CA
Bronze, Bill Ryan, Del Mar, CA
Men 65-69
Gold, Bill Ukapatayasakul, San Diego, CA
Silver, Martin Theil, Brodheadsville, PA
Bronze, Odo Wang, Henderson, NV
Men 70-74
Gold, Ray Pestridge, Stillwater, OK
Silver, Ron Langheim, Middlesex, England
Bronze, Howard Lambert, Sparks, NV
Men 75-79
Gold, Billy Neely, Knoxville, TN
Silver, Lynwood Smith, Palm Springs, FL
Bronze, Dick Peregrne, Port Washington, WI
Men 80-84
Gold, Cornelius Smyth, Chula Vista, CA
Silver, Robert Schowers, Las Vegas, NV
Bronze, Merrill Newren, Salt Lake City, UT
Men 85-89
Gold, Rushan Gao, Houston, TX
Silver, Leo Egel, Modesto, CA
Bronze, Si Wasserman, Oceanside, CA
Women’s Singles
Women 50-54
Gold, Andrea Braunfeld, New York City, NY
Silver, Carol Davis, Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze, Marilyn Feinstein, Denver, CO
Women 55-59
Gold, Ellen Posner, New York City, NY
Silver, Jane Lawnhurst, Denver, CO
Bronze, Geri Grodzinsky, Henderson, NV
Women 60-64
Gold, Judy Semanza, Santa Barbara, CA
Silver, Linda Cass, Decatur, IN
Bronze, Lou Ladd, Henderson, NV
Women 65-69
Gold, Doreen Schofield, Stockport, England
Silver, Ruth Hua, Hixon, TN
Bronze, Nahed Williams, Redington Shores, FL
Women 70-74
Gold, Joyce Arpon, Las Vegas, NV
Silver, Jan Cline, Sun City Center, FL
Bronze, Jinny Longee, Morrison, CO
Women 75-79
Gold, Rosemary Davis, Elsberry, MO
Silver, Elisabeth Heinrichs, Bonn, Germany
Bronze, Patricia L. Thomas, San Antonio, TX
Women 80-84
Gold, Lisa Modlich, Houston, TX
Silver, Tybie Sommer, Scottsdale, AZ
Bronze, Dorothy Irving, Sun City, AZ
Men’s Doubles
Men 50-54
Gold, Borko Dragojlovic, Santee, CA & Cornelius Smyth, Chula Vista, CA
Silver, Robert Paigon, Fremont, CA & Vladmir Sharg, Carmichael, CA
Bronze, Mark Davis, Baltimore, MD & Viktor Troppman, Garden Grove, CA
Men 55-59
Gold, Lonnie Dean, Seal Beach, CA & Willie Escobar, Sun City, CA
Silver, Ray Mack, Rochester, NY & Michael Olugbile, Portsmouth, OH
Bronze, Andy Hutzel, Eagle River, AK & Robert Janes, Juneau, AK
Men 60-64
Gold, Karl-Josef Assenmacher, Hurth, Germany & Ralph Stadelman, Las Vegas, NV
Silver, Bill Ryan, Del Mar, CA & Ray Fahlstrom, LaMesa CA
Bronze, Danny Nasi, Temple City, CA & Dan Cravens, Las Vegas, NV
Men 65-69
Gold, Bill Ukapatayasakul, San Diego, CA & Odo Wang, Henderson, NV
Silver, Shih Lin, Harper City, WV & Gayle Wickerd, Moreno Valley, CA
Bronze, Martn Theil, Brodheadsville, PA & Jerald Williams, Hampton, VA
Men 70-74
Gold, Ray Pestridge, Stillwater, OK & Glendale Markwell, Meeker, OK
Silver, Al Palumbo, Safety Harbor, FL & Jim Weisbecker, The Villages, FL
Bronze, Tom Miller, Livermore, CA & Shoni Aki, Emeryville, CA
Men 75-79
Gold, Billy Neely, Knoxville, TN & Dick Peregrine, Port Washington, WI
Silver, Norman Silver, Colorado Springs, CO & Bill Cantor, Las Vegas, NV
Bronze, Walter Witkowski, San Leandro, CA & Leo Egel, Modesto, CA
Men 80+
Gold, Rushan Gao, Houston, TX & Robert Schowers, Las Vegas, NV
Silver, Bob Hummel, Sandy, UT & Glen Bleak, Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze, Merrill Newren, Salt Lake City, UT & William Brin, Hollister, CA
Women’s Doubles
Women 50-54
Gold, Andrea Braunfeld, New York City, NY & Carol Davis, Salt Lake City, UT
Silver, Marilyn Feinstein, Denver, CO & Tybie Sommer, Scottsdale, AZ
Women 55-59
Gold, Elin Posner, New York City, NY & Jane Lawnhurst, Denver, CO
Women 60-64
Gold, Ruth Hua, Hixon, TN & Linda Cass, Decatur, TN
Silver, Marge Starr, Las Vegas, NV & Lou Ladd, Henderson, NV
Bronze, Rosemary Davis, Elsberry, MO & Judy Semenza, Santa Barbara, CA
Women 65-69
Gold, Joyce Arpon, Las Vegas, NV & Nahed Williams, Redington Shores, FL
Silver, Doreen Schofield, Stockport, England & Frances Visona, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Bronze, JoAnne Tressler, Toledo OH & Helen Norden, Calgary, AB, Canada
Women 70-74
Gold, Sari Kisbany, Redington Shores, FL & Marta Nykl, New Westminster, BC, Canada
Silver, Margo Lindsay, Clearwater, FL & Jan Cline, Sun City Center, FL
Bronze, Elisabeth Heinrichs, Bonn, Germany & Jinny Longee, Morrison, CO
Women 75+
Gold, Lisa Modlich, Houston, TX & Patricia L. Thomas, San Antonio, TX
Silver, Harriet Brin, Hollister, CA & Olga Kahan, Laguna Woods, CA
Mixed Doubles
50-54
Gold, Byron Davis, Salt Lake City, UT & Carol Davis, Salt Lake City, UT
Silver, Borko Dragojlovic, Santee, CA & Geri Grodzinsky, Henderson, NV
Bronze, Paul Herzan, New York, NY & Andre Braunfeld, New York, NY
55-59
Gold, Lonnie Dean, Seal Beach, CA & Harriet Quon, Garden Grove, CA
Silver, John McFadden, New York, NY & Elin Posner, New York, NY
Bronze, Chip Salmon, Milford, NH & Jane Lawnhurst, Denver, CO
60-64
Gold, Karl-Josef Assenmacher, Hurth, Germany & Irina Hellwig, Oakland, CA
Silver, Ralph Stadelman, Las Vegas, NV & Joyce Arpon, Las Vegas, NV
Bronze, Robert Janes, Juneau, AK & Jinny Longee, Morrison, CO
65-69
Gold, Doreen Schofield, Stockport, England & Derek Schofield, Stockport, England
Silver, Billy Neely, Knoxville, TN & Nahed Williams, Redington Shores, FL
Bronze, Vin Paul Hua, Hixon, TN & Ruth Hua, Hixon, TN
70-74
Gold, Ray Fahlstrom, LeMesa, CA & Rosemary Davis, Elsberry, MO
Silver, Eugene Szulczyk, Airdrie, AB, Canada & Marta Nykl, New Westminster, BC, Canada
Bronze, Al Palumbo, Safety Harbor, FL & Margo Lindsay, Clearwater, FL
75-79
Gold, Lynwood Smith, Palm Springs, FL & Sari Kisbany, Redington Shores, FL
Silver, Rudy Hartmann, Oceanside, CA & Dorothy Irving, Sun City, AZ
Bronze, Walter Witkowski, San Leandro, CA & Harriet Brin, Hollister, CA
80-84
Gold, Rushan Gao, Houston, TX & Lisa Modlich, Houston, TX
Silver, Robert Schowers, Las Vegas, NV & Kay Bowen, St. George, UT
Random Draw Doubles
Gold, Ray Mack, Rochester, NY & Richard Giroux, Henderson, NV
Silver, Jerald Williams, Hampton, VA & Paul Ishimitsu, Aiea, HI
Bronze, Robert Palgon, Fremont, CA & Charlie Slater, Stockbridge, GA
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Varghese, Thanks so much for that fine write up. What a pleasant surpirse. We invite all 50 and over to attend next year. Women are especially needed. Grant Misbach
Table tennis rules state a player has the right to continuous play.A player cannot leave the table after each point for several games and sometimes several times a point to delay the game. Every Point…..When ther referee fails to enforce the rules about the only option one has is to expose the infraction, Which I did and it did stop the behavior.Also, all the top players, including the last two Open winners all felt it was correct to expose it and later complained to the umpire that Bill U should have been penalized. The Umpire later agreed with that.My point is you supposed I was frustrated, I was not, I was just exposing what was not being called. Myself & the 5 other 2000-2250 players were only dissapointed afterwards because it was not called on just the perpatrator and early on. The Umpire later agreed with this also.So myself the other 2000+ players (Mack,Assenmacher,Dean,Fahlstrom & Neely) and now the umpire believe this while you as a 1550 player believe the opposite.Who knows you may be right but that’s part of the game, you just try to make the best decisions you can under fire.Sometimes you get the calls & sometimes you don’t.You win some, you lose some.Knowing Bill U. and having beaten him in the Huntsman Open last year I know that sometimes I will win & many times I will lose, he is a very good player and part of what makes him so tough is his tactics.He won & he earned it.
The Huntsman games are great and win or lose it is fun, I may not be able to come every year but hope to return when possible.And as a reply to Varghese post, an explanation:The rules of table tennis state the player is entitled to continuous play.The opponent cannot towel off or wet his shoes after every point, and sometimes several times after just one point & It was getting worse.Bill U. is well known for this.Since it was not being called, I chose to try to expose it to force a call.I did, and a call was made… and it stopped the huge delay tactics.I was not frustrated during the game, just forcing the rule to be called.Every 2000+ player agreed and compained to the umpire after the match why it wasn’t called early on and just against the perpatrator.The umpire now agrees with that, but I understand it was hard to know what to do when a player initiates such tactics.So all the most experienced players rated from 2000-2250 all agreed forcing the call was correct (Ray Mack, Franz Joseph Assenmacher, Lon Dean, Ragnar Fahlstrom, Bill Neely) and now the Umpire also agrees.You maybe right, but as a 1550 player not competing in the tournament you also might be mistaken.Under fire a player must make many decisions some work & some don’t.Sometimes we get the calls & sometimes we don’t.Win some, lose some.I didn’t cost me the match, I had 2-3 match points & failed to convert.Knowing Bill U. & having beaten him in last year’s Huntsman Open, I know how tough he is and his tactics. I know I will beat him sometimes and lose sometimes, he is tough.He won and he earned it, I look forward to future matches with him.