Society Spotlight: UC STARS Table Tennis CLUB
By Peter Searles
The UC STARS Table Tennis Club is entering an exciting new chapter thanks to the addition of new Vice President, Quy Cao. Quy has been a member of Table Tennis ACT for 40 years, where he was Director of the coaching program for junior players aged 7-17. After an injury required him to take an 18 month break from playing and coaching, Quy chose the UC Table Tennis Club as the place to make his return to the sport. This month I spoke to Quy about the new opportunities opening up to table tennis enthusiasts at UC.
UC STARS Table Tennis Club offers an inclusive, friendly environment for players of all skill levels from within the UC community as well as the general public. The club meets each Monday and Friday from 14:30 – 16:00 in the UC sport hall (building 4). When Quy joined the club in late August this year, he recognised that these regular meeting times might not fit with the schedules of many members. He chose to add a third weekly session on Saturday evenings, from 18:00 – 20:00. The first weekend sessions have drawn larger than usual attendance, indicating that there are indeed many who are looking for regular table tennis matches at a time that doesn’t clash with their work and study commitments.
A normal session for the club includes a quick warm up followed by friendly games of table tennis. It is an opportunity for members to have fun, get active, and make new friends while taking a break from work and study. But Quy’s coaching accreditation from Table Tennis Australia means he can offer additional opportunities for those who are looking to improve their skills and further their involvement in the sport. Quy plans to begin informal group coaching sessions, as well as implement a local competition for club members. These tournaments will be held once per semester, with prizes on offer for winners and runners up.
UC's men's team with coach Quy Cao at the UniSport Nationals competition in August 2024
Quy’s long involvement in table tennis has given him a deep understanding of the sport, which he has seen evolve and change over the years. While the standard table tennis ball was once 38 mm in diameter, the International Table Tennis Federation decided to increase the size to 40 mm in the year 2000. This adjustment was to slow down the ball’s movement through the air. At 38 mm, incredible speed was required from players and the ball moved so fast that spectators were unable to see it. The modern 40 mm ball means that players and spectators can keep up with the action of this fast-paced sport. Quy has also kept abreast of the latest developments in game play including the addition of new shot types like the ‘banana split’ (a sidespin-underspin backhand flick) and the ‘strawberry’ (a backhand shot with opposite sidespin to the usual ‘banana’ backhand).
One member of the UC Table Tennis club who has reached this more elite level of gameplay is Lucia Fernandez, an international student who is ranked number 8 in the national team for Mexico. After beginning study at UC, Lucia began training with Quy Cao. Quy has been coaching Lucia in regular weekly sessions, training her to take part in local competitions. In this year’s ACT Open Championship, Lucia had the opportunity to face advanced players from all over Australia. Lucia also joined other members of the UC Table Tennis Club when they took on the ANU Table Tennis Club in the annual Black Mountain Challenge in September this year. After a close battle, UC took home the trophy with a final score of 8-7.
UC Table Tennis Club after winning the 2024 Black Mountain Challenge in September 2024
Whether you are interested in competing, or a beginner player looking for a friendly game, you will find what you’re looking for at UC STARS Table Tennis Club. Membership costs just $5 per year and you can keep up to date with the latest from the club by following them on Facebook.
Curieux wishes Quy Cao the best of luck when he joins many of the world’s top players in the Masters event at this week’s Asia Pacific Championship in Korea!