A Family Business, Highly Successful, Prepared for Main Draw

2016 World Veteran Table Tennis Championships
Courtesy of ITTF

Successful in the initial phase of proceedings; three matches completed in their respective groups, it was top spot for the husband and wife team of China’s Wang Hong Guo and Wang Xiao Ping at the 2016 World Veteran Championships in Alicante/Elche.

Now, the next challenge is the main draw for Wang Hong Guo who is competing in the Men’s Singles 50 to 59 years category and for Wang Xiao Ping who is in action in the Women’s Singles 40 to 49 years’ class.

Family Business

Wang Xiao Ping is very much a convert to table tennis.

“Actually I’ve only been playing table tennis for eight years”, said Wang Xiao Ping. “It was my husband who persuaded me to play.”

I suspect she had minimal choice; the family business is the Hong Guo TableTennis Club in Hangzhou, a city in Zhejiang Province not too far distant from Shanghai.

Furthermore, 20-year-old daughter, Wang Ming Ke who is now attending university, played table tennis professionally for a short while.

Coach

“We have over one hundred members at the club”, explained Wang Hong Guo. “I teach them how to play.”

Notably both are penholders and I suspect for European players in Wang Xiao Ping could prove an absolute nightmare!

She is combination of Chen Zihe, Gao Jun and Ni Xialian; she is a right-hander penholder using smooth reversed rubber on one side of the racket, long pimples of the other. Staying close to the table and confusing opponents with a wicked cocktail of spin is her forte.

First Visit to Europe

The style has brought success as has the attacking style of Wang Hong Guo who is enjoying every minute in Alicante/Elche.

“I didn’t know about the World Veteran Championships until this one”, said Wang Hong Guo who has played table tennis for almost 20 years; like his wife a comparative new recruit to the sport.

Now if China is not too aware of the World Veteran Championships, a major promotion in the next two years, just think how many players may travel to Las Vegas!

Competing Against Foreign Players

“Really I like it so much here; for sure in two years’ time we will go to Las Vegas”, added Wang Hong Guo. “It’s good to compete against foreign players, it’s a great experience.”

The view was shared by Wang Xiao Ping.

“It is the first time we have ever been the Europe”, she added. “It’s really good to go sight-seeing.”

Success and both have their favorite players; Ma Long, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin are the favorites of Wang Hong Guo; for Wang Xiao Ping it is Deng Yaping and Zhang Yining.

The Coach

Meanwhile for the daughter, she is heavily involved, too young to play, she is the coach; judging by results so far, she is doing a good job.

Visit the Official site of the 2016 World Veteran Table Tennis Championships for complete results.