46^th World Table Tennis Championships

Osaka, Japan · April 23 - May 6, 2001

Interview with USA Team Member Eric Owens

You will be playing Nigeria tomorrow in the first USA team match. Any thoughts on that match?
I’m just going to play my game, try my hardest, and represent the U.S. the best I can. I just want to help my team to pull out a victory and get us off to a good start. Segun Toriola, their best player, had Johnny Huang match point at the Olympics, so we know he’s very good.

What is your game plan?
I’ll adjust my style based on my opponent. I’ll probably start by playing a steady aggressive game until I see how they react, and then adjust.

What are your views on the new rules the ITTF is voting on regarding outlawing hidden serves and going to 11-point games?
I think these two rules would be great for the sport. I think serves these days are too difficult to return, and it’s too difficult to get into the point. What the ITTF is trying to do is increase the number of hits per rally, and I think outlawing hidden serves will help do that. I think 11-point games will make the sport more dramatic, and every point crucial.

What have you worked most on this year in your table tennis game?
I’ve worked on my serve, serve return and backhand. I’ve done a lot of weight training. Because of the big ball I think you are going to need to be more fit. I think the weight training has really helped me a lot.

A lot of us have noticed that your backhand has gotten stronger in recent years. Just a few years ago you were basically a one-winged attacker.
That’s absolutely accurate. I’ve known for years that I needed to work on it, and I’ve been doing that, and I need to continue to work on it.

Three of the ten U.S. team members are vegetarians, or at least nearly vegetarians. (Chang Gao Jun will eat fish, while Ashu Jain will eat egg products.) You’re one of them. Tell us about that.
I’ve been a vegetarian since birth. My parents are vegetarians, and I have never eaten meat in my life. I started out because of my parents, but as I grew older, it became a conscious decision for animal rights and health reasons.

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