2004 North American Olympic Doubles Trials

Atlanta, GA · April 3-4, 2004

Canadian Player Profiles (The specific Canadian teams are not yet known.)

USA Men

David Zhuang

• Partner: Eric Owens

• Height: 5’10”

• Weight: 165

• Born: Guangdong, China

• Residence: West Windsor, NJ

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Penhold

• Style of Play: Close-to-table Attack

• International Ranking: 167

Goals: To make my third Olympic Appearance in Athens at the 2004 Games.

Personal Profile: A member of the U.S. National Team since 1995, David balances time with his loving wife who coaches him and his two daughters.  David is a full-time table tennis coach.  David’s favorite aspect of the game is the intensity & mental toughness during competition, and the on-going development of different techniques in the sport.  David said he would name his autobiography “The Ageless and Passionate Zhuang”.

Athlete Highlights:

• Member of 2003 U.S. National Men’s, Pan Am, and World Teams

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Men’s Doubles Champion, Singles 3rd place

• 4-Time U.S. Men’s National Singles Champion

• 7-Time U.S. Men’s National Doubles Champion

• 6-Time U.S. Men’s National Mixed Doubles Champion

• Member of 1996 and 2000 North American Olympic Teams

• Member of 2003 U.S. Pan Am Team

• USOC Athlete of the Year for Table Tennis in 1996 & 2000

• Runner-up at the 2003 NA Team Championships

Eric Owens

• Partner: David Zhuang

• Height: 5’8”

• Weight: 165

• Born: Houston, TX

• Residence: Ft. Worth, TX

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: Aggressive

• International Ranking: 366

Goals: To become a research physician

Personal Profile: Eric is Full-time college student at Texas Wesleyn University studying Biochemistry with a 3.85 GPA.  Eric is a vegetarian and lives by his favorite slogan “eat to live instead of live to eat”.  Eric has over 30 different USA Junior National titles and ran a full marathon at the age of nine.  His favorite movie is "Titanic" and his favorite actor is Tom Cruise.

Athlete Highlights:

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Mixed Doubles Semifinalist

• Member of 2003 U.S. World & Pan Am Team

• Member of 2000 Olympic Team

• 2001 National Championships Men’s Singles & Doubles Champion and mixed doubles semifinalist

• 1999 Pan Am Games Gold Medalist in Teams

• Under22, U.S. National Champion in 1996

• 30+ different USA Junior National Titles

• 1998 & 2000 North American Championships Doubles Champion  

Ilija Lupulesku

• Partner: Mark Hazinski

• Born: Yugoslavia

• Residence: Chicago, IL

• Handedness: Left

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: two-winged shakehand steady looper

• International Ranking: 109

Personal profile: Lupulesku was born in Yugoslavia and is making the jump to join the U.S. Association.  A member of the 2003 U.S. Pan Am Team, Lupulesku could not make the trip to Santo Domingo due to injury.  As the #1 eligible male table tennis athlete in the U.S. Lupulesku has his site on making his first U.S. Olympic Team.  He was a Silver Medalist in doubles at the 1988 Olympics, with Zoran Primorac.

Athlete Highlights:

• 2004 USA Olympic Team Member

• 2002 & 2003 U.S. National Men’s Singles Champion  

• 2003 U.S. National Mixed Doubles Champion; Doubles Champion

• 2002 U.S Open Elite Singles and Over 30 Champion

• 2001 North American Teams Champion

• 1990 European Men’s Doubles Champion, 3-time runner-up

• 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist, Men’s Doubles

• 1987 World Championships Men’s Doubles Finalist

• Two time European Mixed Doubles Champion, 2-time Runner-up

• Four-time Yugoslavian Men’s Singles Champion; 10-time men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion

Mark Hazinski

• Partner: Ilija Lupulesku

• Height: 6’4”

• Weight: 195

• Born: Mishawaka, IN

• Residence: Mishawaka, IN

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: Power Looper

• International Ranking: 366

Goals: To make the 2004 Olympic Team and make a living out of table tennis.

Personal Profile: A U.S. National Team Member in 2001 & 2003, Mark first made the Men’s team at 15.  Mark was introduced to the sport in elementary school at 9, but is now home schooled.  Mark has two younger sisters.  Mark grew up in Indiana close to his mentor & Men’s National Team Coach, Dan Seemiller.  Mark is a very humble individual and wishes that every country spoke the same language.

Athlete Highlights:

• Member of 2003 U.S. National Men’s, Pan Am, and World Teams

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Finalist almost defeating the reigning Champion

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Men’s Doubles Semifinalist

• 2003 U.S. Open U-22 Men’s Semifinalist

• 2003 Canadian Junior Open Bronze Team Medalist

• 1998-2001 Junior Olympic Gold Medalist in Singles & Doubles

• 2000-2002 U.S. National Championships U-22 Champion in Singles

• 2001-2002 U.S. National Championships U-18 Champion

Sean O’Neill

• Partner: Tahl Leibovitz

• Height: 6’1”

• Born: Toledo, OH

• Residence: Charlottesville, VA

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: Forehand looper

• International Ranking: 343

Goals: Sean's top goal for 2004 is for the U.S. Paralympic Team to play their best in Athens and to bring home as many medals as possible. 

Personal profile: Sean is currently works for the United States Olympic Committee's Paralympic Division for Table Tennis. He will be the Head Coach and Team Leader in Athens for the US Paralympic Table Tennis Team.  As the Director of Marketing for Ping-Pong.com and table tennis guide at About.com, Sean keeps busy with promoting the sport both online and at tournaments.  Although Sean retired from serious training in 1996, he occasionally will compete in tournaments when his coaching schedule allows.  

Athlete Highlights: 

• Five-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion

• Five-time U.S. Men’s Doubles Champion

• Six-time U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion

• Five-time US Junior Singles Champion

• Member, 1988 & 1992 U.S. Olympic Team

• 2000 U.S. National Over 30 Champion

• 2003 U.S. Open Over 30 Champion & Under 2500 Singles Champion 

Tahl Leibovitz

• Partner: Sean O'Neill

• Height: 5'4"

• Weight: 120

• Residence: Elmhurst, NY

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehands

• Style of Play: Control topspin player

Goals: To win a silver or gold medal in Greece . (He already has a gold and bronze.) To help make serious professional players of all AYTTO students in the New York City school system.

Personal profile: Tahl uses Stiga Energy Wood racket, Mendo MP on his forehand and Mendo Energy on his backhand.  He qualified for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens by winning gold at the Para-Pan Am Games in Brazil .  He is a Certified Youth Instructor and enjoys sharing his table tennis knowledge with the students of the NYC school system as well as the Boys Club, Pal League and NYC Parks Dept through an Organization called "American Youth Table Tennis Organization."

Athlete Highlights:

• 2004 USOC Elite Athlete

• 2004 US National Paralympic Team

• U.S. Paralympic Gold and Bronze Medalist

• U.S. World Maccabiah Team Member

• 16th World Maccabiah Bronze Medalist (Mixed doubles)

• 9-time US Paralympic Team Member

• 8-time US National Paralympic Champion

• 6-time US Open Paralympic Champion

• 4-time Chinatown Open Champion

• 3-time NYC Open Champion

• IPC World Championships Bronze Medalist

• 2002 US National Men's Doubles Semifinalist

• 2003 US National Men's Doubles Semifinalist

USA Women

Jasna Reed

• Partner: Whitney Ping

• Height: 5’7”

• Weight: 117

• Born: Foca, Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Residence: Chicago, IL

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: All Around

• International Ranking: 114

Goals: To win another Olympic medal, have  fun, a family, and  a steady job.

Personal Profile: Jasna has a degree in Political Science from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI.  She says that her degree, Olympic medal, and many friends that she can rely on are her greatest accomplishments.  Jasna claims to be a movie “freak” and likes to play other sports.  Jasna also claims to have no ability to control her emotions

Athlete Highlights:

• 2004 USA Olympic Team Member

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Women’s Singles Champion

• 2001-2003 U.S. National Championships Women’s Doubles Champion

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Mixed Doubles Champion

• 2003 Pan Am Game Gold Medalist in Women’s Doubles

• Made round of 16’s at 2003 Danish Open– Pro Tour Event

• 1988 Olympic Bronze Medal-Women's Doubles

• 1988 European Gold-Mixed Doubles

• 1992 European Gold-Women’s Doubles

• 15 time Yugoslavian Champion in Singles, Teams, Mixed Doubles & Women’s Doubles

• U.S. National Women’s Team member since 2000

Whitney Ping

• Partner: Jasna Reed

• Height:  5’4”

• Weight: 115

• Born: Portland, OR

• Residence: Beaverton, OR

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: Two-winged mid-distance looper

• International Ranking: 371

Goals: To make the U.S. National Team and the Olympic Team and to be a top ranked player in the world.

Personal Profile: Whitney loves the complexity of the game and how the more she comes to understand it, the more she starts to love it.  Whitney also likes the traveling associated with the sport and the opportunities to meet lots of new people.  In High School Whitney was a 4.0 GPA student, member of the National Honor Society, and the “Who’s Who Among American High School Students”.

Athlete Highlights:

• Member of 1999-2004 U.S. Junior National Team

• 2002 U.S. Junior National Champion U-18 Girls

• 2002 U.S National Championships U-22 Women’s Champion

• 2002 U.S. National Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist

• 2002 North American Junior Girls’ Finalist

• 2001 Canadian International Junior Open Cadet Girls’ Champion

Tawny Banh

• Partner: Simone Yang

• Height: 5’3”

• Weight: 118

• Born: Bac Lieu, Vietnam

• Residence: San Gabriel, CA

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: Aggressive Forehand Loop w/ Backhand hit

• International Ranking: 143

Goals: To qualify for the 2004 Olympics and become U.S. National Champion.  Also to have a successful business of my own.

Personal Profile: A National Team member since 1994, Tawny started her career at 13 when her oldest brother introduced her to the sport.  She enjoys time with her 5 siblings and says her mom always does the nicest things for her.  Tawny’s greatest accomplishment was qualifying for the 2000 Olympic Team with an injured arm. Tawny is very caring and compassionate.

Athlete Highlights:

• 2004 USA Olympic Team Member

• 2003 Pan Am Game Silver Medalist in Doubles; Bronze Medalist in Singles

• 2003 U.S. National Championships 1st in Doubles; 2nd in Singles

• 2003 North American Championships 2nd in Singles & Doubles

• 2002 North American Championships 2nd in Singles & Doubles

• 1999 Pan Am Game Team Gold Medalist

• 1995 Pan Am Game Silver Medalist in Teams; Bronze Medalist in Singles

Hometown: Portland, OR

Age: 41

Playing Style: Steady shakehands blocker

International Ranking: 263

Partner: Tawny Ban

• 2003 U.S. National Over 40 Women’s Singles Champion

• 2000 & 2001 Women’s Doubles Finalist

• 1999-2002 Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist

• U.S. #1 Senior Woman, 2002

• Member, U.S. National Team

Lily Yip

• Partner: Judy Hugh (daughter)

• Height: 5’5”

• Weight: 135

• Born: Canton, China

• Residence: Warren, NJ

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Penhold

• Style of Play: Fast attack, Strong backhand block

• International Ranking: 162

Goals: To be happy and healthy.

Personal Profile: A member of the U.S. National Team since 1991, Lily is a Wife, Mother of two National Team members, Coach, Tournament Coordinator, and owner of a table tennis business.  Portrayed as the leader of the “first family” of U.S. Table Tennis, Lily’s children (Adam & Judy) are members of the 2004 Junior Boy’s & Cadet Girls Teams.  Lily began playing at age 7 and has a degree in Physical Education from GuangXhou University in China.

Athlete Highlights:

• 2003 Pan Am Game Silver Medalist in Doubles

• 2003 U.S. National Championships Women’s Singles 3rd

• 2003 North American Championships 2nd in Doubles & Mixed Doubles

• 1995 Pan Am Game Silver Medalist in Singles; Gold in Doubles, and Silver in Teams

• 1991 Pan Am Game Silver Medalist in Singles; Gold in Doubles, and Gold in Teams

• 1992-1995 U.S. National Championships Women’s Singles Finalist

• 1992-1995 U.S. National Championships Women’s Doubles Champion

• Member of North American Olympic Team in 1992 & 1996

Judy Hugh

• Partner: Lily Yip (mother)

• Height: 5’2”

• Weight: 110

• Born: Rockledge, FL

• Residence: Warren, NJ

• Handedness: Right

• Grip: Shakehand

• Style of Play: Both-side attacker/looper

• International Ranking: NA

Goals: To make the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and the National Team.

Personal Profile: The daughter of Women’s National Team member Lily Yip, Judy is a member of the 2004 Cadet National Team.  Her only sibling Adam Hugh is also a U.S National Team member on the Junior Boy’s Team.  Judy loves traveling to nation-wide tournaments and has for the past 3 years as a National Team Member.  Judy enjoys hanging out with her friends and chatting on the internet.

Athlete Highlights:

• 2003 US Cadet Team Trials 1st

• 2003 Canadian Junior Open Singles 1st; Doubles 3rd

• 2003 Nationals Women’s Doubles Finalist; Mixed Doubles Semifinalist; U-2100 Champion; U-4200 Doubles Champion

• 2002 U.S. Nationals U-15 Champion; Doubles Finalist

• 2003 World Cadet Challenge Doubles Semifinalist

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