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\u25b8 When, why and where did you start playing table tennis?<\/strong> \u25b9 When I was 6 I saw my brothers were playing and wanted to have a go as it seemed like fun, however I was that annoying little sister and they didn\u2019t trust me with their bats so had to use a chopping board instead. The next time I picked up a bat I was 10\/11 years old in an after school sport\u2019s club and I loved it. I played until I was 14 whenever I had a chance (had to stop when moved to a high school as it didn\u2019t have any tables), and then again 8 years ago in Edinburgh. As you can see it\u2019s never been consistent, however I always thought it was a game where you can have lots of fun.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b8 What interests you and excites you most about TT?<\/strong> \u25b9 I think the most exciting thing about TT is that everyone can play it despite gender and disability. It\u2019s a sport for life \u2013 no-one is too old to play table tennis and it\u2019s never too late to start \u2013 a few years ago I helped an 80 year old gentleman who just started to play. It was great to see how excited he was when he played a right shot and we could have a short rally. Also money is not as important as in other sports. If you can\u2019t play, even the best bat will not improve your game. It keeps you mentally sharp and helps people with dementia.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u25b8 Do you have a table tennis idol. If so, who and why?<\/strong> \u25b9 Yes, I do. It\u2019s Natalia Partyka \u2013 a Polish table tennis player who was born without a right forearm. She competes in both Para and able-bodies circuit. She was the youngest Paralympian in table tennis history when she competed at Syndey 2000 when she was only 11. She shows that there are no excuses if you want to be good at something.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b8 How often do you train?<\/strong> \u25b9 Not often enough! I try to train at least once a week, however being a mum and have a full time job is not always that easy. Fortunately my daughter is getting older and can be more independent which means I have more time than before so there are really no excuses anymore.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u25b8 What\u2019s your favourite training exercise & why?<\/strong> \u25b9 If you asked me what exercise I don\u2019t like I would answer straight away hehe I\u2019m trying to vary the exercises I do, however most of the time it\u2019s a serve return one \u2013 really want to improve the third ball attack.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b8 What\u2019s your proudest moment so far in TT?<\/strong> \u25b9 Last year\u2019s Edinburgh Championship \u2013 I didn\u2019t win, however I was really proud of myself when I played Yuhuan \u2013 I couldn\u2019t believe in some of the rallies we had. I knew I wasn\u2019t going to win so just went for it and enjoyed the game without any expectations. I think I should do it more often.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b8 What aspect of the game is most important to achieve success?<\/strong> \u25b9 I believe that consistent and regular training sessions are the most important. Without regular training we don\u2019t really improve. Also confidence is important too. I know I am better during training sessions than during a match as I don\u2019t believe in myself as much as I should, however I\u2019m working on it and proved it during the last competition.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u25b8 What are your plans and goals for the future (in TT)?<\/strong> \u25b9 I would like to train more, improve my footwork and get promoted to division 1. Not adding more to the list at the moment (and I know I could), but better to focus on a few things and succeed [fingers crossed].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u25b8 You caused some surprises in our last tournament. What did you think of this year\u2019s Murrayfield Club Championship?<\/strong> \u25b9 Haha yes, it was a surprise for me as well especially as I didn\u2019t train as much as I should and wanted. It was definitely a very unusual tournament taking the situation we are currently living in. When I first heard of this idea I was straight on the Yes side. I love competitions (even if I know I\u2019m not gonna win) and seeing\/playing other people after such a long break was a bonus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\u25b8 How\u2019s lockdown been for you? Have you been able to keep active and keep in touch with players and coaches at MTTC?<\/strong> \u25b9 I\u2019ve heard lots of people have been struggling with the restrictions, however I tried to think of the positives. I\u2019ve been lucky enough to work from home since the end of March, therefore we (Mike and I) decided to use the lunch time break and started to run. Unfortunately it wasn\u2019t good for us (Mike kept pulling a muscle and I got an ankle injury without any trips and falls) and we had to give up after the 8th out of 9 weeks \u2018Couch to 5k\u2019 program. I wasn\u2019t really that upset as running is not my thing and hardly enjoyed it. We started to do other exercises and in July we got bikes instead. I ain\u2019t going back to running for sure. I also mastered my sourdough bread and knitting got busier too. I\u2019ve hardly been in touch with anyone, mostly only with the Muirs as Lindsay\u2019s wife, Lorna, is a good friend of mine.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b8 What\u2019s it like combining a full-time job with table tennis training?<\/strong> \u25b9 I would also add \u2018being a mum\u2019 to the list as well hehe as it also has some impact. Yeah, it\u2019s not an easy thing, as sometimes there are days when trainings are on the evenings when I am needed as a mum and can\u2019t be in two places at once or had a long day at work and there is still a long list of things to do, but fortunately Mike is a great help and just \u2018forces me\u2019 to put my sports gear on and says \u2018let\u2019s go, you will smash a few balls and feel better\u2019. Of course during the last months it\u2019s been slightly different and we play on Saturday mornings which is a great wake up method.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u25b8 What are the benefits of table tennis and MTTC membership?<\/strong> \u25b9 It\u2019s not just table tennis club with great coaches, but also a very social club, nearly everyone is friendly and it doesn\u2019t matter what level you are at, the players help each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u25b8 Post-lockdown, what will your training programme look like?<\/strong> \u25b9 At the moment it\u2019s hard to say as it depends on my daughter\u2019s after school activities as well, however I hope we can find a middle ground and I will be able to do at least one training session a week at the club and minimum a couple of 1-2-1 a month as well. I know it\u2019s not a lot, but after such a long break it\u2019s a good start.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\u25b8 Why do you think female participation in table tennis in Scotland is low? How would you encourage other women to play table tennis?<\/strong> \u25b9 I\u2019m not sure I can answer this question. It\u2019s not just Scotland. I remember when I was at primary school and not that many girls were interested in playing it. Also a few years ago I took a part in a table tennis summer camp in Germany – for maybe 20 participants, I was the only female there. I wonder if it is because proper TT, like other sports, makes you sweaty and many women don\u2019t want that? Or because it is a competitive sport in general and most women do running, gym, yoga all non competitive? I think girls and young women are more self conscious and boys\/men don\u2019t mind looking more aggressive at the table. I\u2019m not sure how I can encourage other women to play TT, at work I talk about it with passion and mention the benefits, however none of my female colleagues seem to be interested. They may have a go at a social event, but it doesn\u2019t go any further which is a shame. Hopefully TT will be more promoted at schools as a proper sport and not something kids do coz it\u2019s raining outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u25b8 What are you into apart from table tennis?<\/strong> \u25b9 There are a few things such as cooking, baking, reading, upcycling old furniture, but the biggest thing is knitting. I just love to create new items and can be making a several projects at once. I\u2019m slowly getting to a point where I\u2019m going to need a spare room just for my yarn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\u25b8 How are you going to spend your Christmas holidays?<\/strong> \u25b9 I came to Scotland in 2006 and since then I\u2019ve been spending Christmas here, however in January I decided to spend this time with my daughter and my Mum in Poland. Due to the current circumstances it took me around three months to make the final decision. I can\u2019t wait to be fed by my Mum and her delicious traditional Christmas dishes. I will be making Polish gingerbreads, apple pie with Christmas spices, porcini mushrooms tortellini and whatever my Mum has planned for me. I won\u2019t be seeing all my brothers and sisters and their families, therefore I\u2019m planning to knit whenever I have a chance. Once I\u2019m back I will definitely need very intensive TT sessions to loose all the gained weight.<\/p>by Charlie Ellis<\/strong> Krzysztof Borkowicz<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n