By Kyna Fong (From Nov/Dec 1999 USA Table Tennis Magazine)

This summer, from August 19 to August 25, members of the U.S. Junior National Team flew to Taipei, Taiwan to compete in the first ever 1999 I Love Taipei First Commercial Bank Cup Junior Table Tennis Tournament International.

Altogether, the American contingent consisted of sixteen people. Of those sixteen there were three coaches, Gao Jun, Lily Yip and Jack Huang, and one team manager, Dr. Jiing Wang. Representing the U.S. on the junior girls' team were Whitney Ping (OR) and Katherine Wu (MD) for the Under-15 division, and Michelle Do (CA) and Kyna Fong (CA) for the Under-18 division. Howard Lamb (TX), Mark Hazinski (IN), Adam Hugh (NJ) and Auria Malek (CA) represented the Under-15 division of the U.S. junior boys' team while Freddie Gabriel (CA), Sunny Li (MD), Terrence Lee (CA), and Judy Hugh (NJ) represented the Under-18 division.

Most likely, the presence of that last team member will confuse some readers and cause them to wonder why in the world a ten-year-old girl played as a member of the under-18 division of the boys' national team. Yet other readers may be wondering about the absence of some other obviously qualified junior players. The reason goes as follows.

First of all, the decision actually to send a contingent to this tournament was not made until quite close to the travel date. Thus, USATT officials had very limited planning time for the trip. At the moment, Lily Yip was with her children, Adam and Judy, vacationing in China. Since Adam had been selected for the under-15 team and the American contingent needed another coach, Lily's proximity to Taiwan made her an obvious choice for coach. Unable to leave her daughter behind in China, Lily asked whether Judy could come along and was granted permission. Several reasons contributed to USATT's decision. First of all, it needed another coach and another player; secondly, flying a coach and a player from China was much cheaper than flying them from the U.S.; lastly, USATT was falling short on finding competitive players and coaches to fill the teams.

In addition, many obviously qualified players couldn't go on the trip due to the short notice and lack of preparation time. For instance, Han Xiao and Michael Liu, two of the original choices for the Under-15 boys' team, were forced to stay home as they found that getting a visa to Taiwan for holders of Chinese passports would take six to eight weeks. Other qualified players already had other commitments, such as Jackie Lee, who did not want to miss her first few days of high school.

Now, the reason Judy became a playing member of the U.S. Boys' Team was that, the day before the departure date, Keith Alban, who had agreed to play in Taipei, was unable to go due to an injury, and Judy was the only extra American player present to complete the team. Nevertheless, Judy's addition was greatly beneficial to the whole team, for if she hadn't been there, the seven boys would have had no choice but to squeeze onto one four-person team and to play far fewer matches than they otherwise would have played. With Judy, the count rose to eight and two teams could be entered into the draw, allowing everyone a chance to play in every team tie.

On August 19, all the American team members, with the exception of Lily, Adam, Judy and Auria (all of whom were in China), flew to and met in Los Angeles. The five boys had flown in from the National Training Center in Flint, Michigan, where they had been training for the past week or so. They later returned to Flint after the trip to train a few more days.

Unfortunately for the team, unfavorable weather conditions governed that day and both flights from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong to Taipei experienced long delays. Finally, at 12:30 AM on August 21, the day tournament play was to begin, the team arrived in the Taipei airport where tournament officials were waiting with a shuttle bus to take the team on an hour-long trip to the hotel. Yet more delays awaited the team at the hotel. Arriving around 1:30 AM, the team had various troubles checking in, and even greater difficulties dividing up the rooms. Since those team members flying in from China had arrived several hours earlier, they had already taken and fallen asleep in their rooms. When the whole team arrived, however, various rooming incompatibilities were discovered. As a result of the whole mix-up, which came to an end around 3:00 am, Jun Gao and the four girls' team members ended up all squeezing together into one room with two tiny double beds and a few thin strips of hard floor.

USA Junior Girls' Team in Taiwan:
Katherine Wu, Kyna Fong, Coach Gao Jun,
Michelle Do and Whitney Ping.
(Boys' photo didn't come out....)
Three hours later, everyone woke up with fair doses of jet lag, ate breakfast, and took the shuttle to the playing site where they warmed up for the first matches scheduled at 9 AM. Needless to say, the players were not at the highest levels of consciousness, but thankfully, the excitement of playing in a large international tournament on the other side of the world motivated the team at least to feel a bit sharper.

As a tournament devoted entirely to juniors under the age of eighteen, there were only six events: girls' team, boys' team (both held on the first day), girls' U-18 singles, boys' U-18 singles, girls' U-15 singles and boys' U-15 singles (all held on the second and third days). Still, the tournament attracted 25 teams for a total of more than 120 players, mostly representing various Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and of course, Taiwan. With its large sponsor, the First Commercial Bank of Taipei, the tournament offered large cash prizes along with medals to its winners. In the team events, first place awards were US $3,000; second, $2,000; and third, $1,000. In the singles' events, champions took home $600; runner-ups, $400; and third-place winners, $200. Interestingly enough, equal prizes were awarded in boys' events as in girls' events and in older events as in younger events.

The tournament was held in a fairly nice facility in downtown Taipei called the Taipei Gymnasium, which offered bright lighting, very high ceilings and hardwood floors. Eight Sponeta tables were set up in the main gymnasium for tournament play, and six were available on the third floor for practice. The practice tables were actually the site of a local table tennis club, of which there are incredibly many just within the city of Taipei. (For example, while strolling around downtown, within a block of the hotel, the American team accidentally stumbled upon a club in the basement of a clothing shop.) Each table was allotted plenty of space, surrounded completely by Sponeta barriers, and each had its own umpire and scoreboard. Furthermore, for the team events, signs were hung on the barriers indicating which team was playing which. There was plenty of seating for spectators in a balcony overlooking the playing area, and prominently hung all around the balcony and gymnasium were advertisements for various sponsors, which ranged from table tennis companies to orange juice producers to high-quality jewelers. The only major complaint our juniors had about the facility was its bathrooms. Few of the girls were accustomed to Taipei's "toilets," which consisted more or less of a basin plopped into a hole on the floor. Consequently, the girls' team made frequent trips across the street to the more attractive facilities of the nearby McDonald's.

The tournament organizers also printed out a 65-page, partly bilingual tournament program that listed pictures, names and birth dates of all players, coaches and team leaders, grouped by team. In addition, it listed the tournament draws, and at the end, contained large, color advertisements for each of its sponsors. The programs, however, were distributed only to coaches and team managers.

The format of the team events required each team to consist of at least four players, two under the age of 18 and two under the age of 15. Each team tie was played best three matches of five. In the first and fifth matches, under-18 members played each other in singles; in the second and fourth matches, under-15 members battled. The third match was a doubles match in which any two players on the team, regardless of age, could play.

With those restrictions in mind, the American contingent was divided into two boys' teams and one girls' team. Representing the U.S. on the first boys' team, called the "Washington D.C. Boys' Team," were Freddie, Sunny, Mark and Howard. Playing on the "San Francisco Boys' Team" were Terrence, Judy, Auria and Adam. Last but not least was the "Washington D.C. Girls' Team," consisting of Michelle, Kyna, Whitney and Katherine.

Since the first rounds of the team events were in round robin format, each team had the opportunity to play at least two other teams before bowing out. The ensuing rounds, however, were all single elimination.

Drawing two strong Taiwan teams, the D.C. Girls' Team put up a good fight, but failed to overcome either team and thus to advance. The SF Boys' Team was also unable to advance out of its round robin, although they almost pulled off an upset over Taiwan's Kao Hsiung City, losing 2-3. A bit more successful, the D.C. Boys' Team eked out a great 3-2 victory over Taiwan's Hsin-Chu Hsien City to advance out of the round robin and make it to the quarterfinals, where they met Hong Kong. Despite Mark's heroic three-game victory in the second match, the Hong Kong team snatched the next two matches for a 3-1 victory and a trip to the semifinals.

In the singles' events, all rounds were single elimination. Although a few American juniors failed to get by their first opponents, several marked notable wins.

On the girls' side, after easily disposing of her first opponent from a local school in Taipei, 2-0, Michelle ran into the eventual runner-up for the event and was forced to bow out, 0-2. Katherine Wu also notched an exciting deuce-in-the-3^rd win over a girl she had beaten in the team event. Her next opponent, however, squeezed a third-game win by her and eventually went on to place third in that event.

The boys had a bit more difficult of a time than the girls, advancing only two out of the first round: Auria and Freddie. In his first match, Auria fought hard with a series of "Cho!"s and deservedly took the match in the third game. Still fighting hard in his next match, Auria let the win fall out of his grasp, losing 1-2.

Playing in the highest-level event, Boys' U-18 singles, Freddie delivered several stunning performances to advance to the quarterfinals. In the first round, Freddie defeated a high-ranked Taiwan player in a thrilling19-in-the-third match. Although his next round was a bit easier, it was not so by much and ended with a triumphant Freddie running off with a three-game win. Suddenly the young American star found himself in the quarterfinals, facing off against a rising Asian sensation. Exchanging fierce counter-looping rallies throughout the match, soon the two young men were tied one game to one, 20-20. Team members from both sides cheering at full volume, Freddie pumped himself and gave it his all ... Alas, the effort fell short. Final score, 21-23: game, match and ticket to the semifinals to his opponent.

On the night of the last day of tournament play, the tournament organizers held a players' party in the hotel, where seating was assigned at the door by drawing out of a hat. As a result, strangers from different countries ended up sitting at the same tables and were given a chance to meet new people. After meals had been served, the hosts kicked off the entertainment with each team singing a song on Karaoke. The shy American delegation ended up singing the only English song of the night, "Killing Me Softly," and was treated to some generous applause. After those performances came several relay races, in which teams did such things as balancing ping pong balls on spoons which they held in their mouths or running in pairs with a balloon squeezed between their backs. With all the amusements and socializing, the party turned out quite fun.

Afterwards, the U.S. team had one and a half days of free time before having to head home. Much of the first free day was spent at a local amusement park and later at the famous Taiwanese "Night Markets" where various trinkets, such as necklaces, purses, watches, etc. could be bought for less than a dollar! Not surprisingly, luggage was brought home significantly increased in size.

The next day, about half of the team opted to catch up on some sleep before catching the flight home while the other half chose to follow Coach Gao to a nearby club where the First Commercial Bank-sponsored junior team trained. Interestingly enough, this club was located right inside the large First Commercial Bank Building itself, among the offices and bankers. Here, the U.S. juniors practiced with and played matches against the First Bank team. Seeing how their Asian counterparts trained and their range of levels was quite helpful to the U.S. team, allowing them to gauge their own abilities. Regrettably, the American team had to make an early exit to catch their early afternoon flight. Thus ended the fun and exciting expedition.

Although the American juniors were unable to bring home any medals or cash prizes, they did come home with much new experience and knowledge. For one thing, most discovered that their own levels were amazingly close to their Asian counterparts. Many of the U.S. juniors, although they lost their matches, still were able to snatch a game or two, and few felt as if they absolutely could not keep up with their opponents. In fact, this tournament inspired many young spirits as they saw how, as a new crop of American juniors, they do indeed have a chance to be competitive on the international scene, if only they put their minds and hearts to the task.

The American juniors were also able to witness firsthand the noticeably different attitude Asian countries had towards the sport of table tennis. First of all, the tournament was probably the most accurately scheduled and punctual tournament Americans had ever witnessed; and the reason for that quality was neither smarter nor more efficient tournament organizers, but just more eager and disciplined players. Matches never fell behind schedule because once one was over, the players for the next match were always sitting by the side, waiting to jump in and start their match. They just had a different kind of attitude and discipline from what is common here in the U.S.

Another non-American convention the U.S. juniors saw a lot of was the proliferation of coaching during matches. Nobody took a slightest notice in it, even when it occurred very obviously during important matches. For these players, coaching during matches seemed like the norm. Needless to say, umpires paid no heed to it. An excellent but hilarious example of such coaching occurred during one of Whitney's matches against a girl from Vietnam. Between each and every point, the Vietnamese girl' coach would talk very loudly to her about what she should do. Before one important point, she was preparing to serve backhand, but her coach yelled out that she should serve forehand. Obediently, the girl turned around and served forehand. Cases such as those, although at not such apparent levels, were abundant throughout.

Also interesting was the way Asian players were used to warming up. Here in the U.S., players already loathe having to cross-court their warm-up table with another pair. In Taiwan, however, seeing 15-20 players warm up on the same table was the norm! Not a second was wasted, as a pair would start hitting as soon as the previous pair missed and were going to pick up the ball. Efficiency was definitely the name of the game, and that the Asian players were used to having many more players than room on tables was obvious.

Not only did the Asian players have different attitudes, but the tournament organizers as well. Here in the U.S., the most tournament organizers do is perhaps bring in and pay for a couple top-ranked players to come play at the tournament. At this particular tournament, however, the tournament organizers provided hotel rooms, meals, traffic transportation and entertainment for all the foreign teams. Furthermore, on August 24, the day after the tournament had finished, the organizers not only arranged for all the teams to go to a local amusement park, but also paid for entrance fees and lunches. Such enthusiasm and care for the players were definitely foreign to much of the U.S. team.

During the Opening Ceremonies of the tournament, the U.S. Junior team had the opportunity for an encounter with a famous Taiwanese public figure: Ma Ying Jeou, the Mayor of Taipei. Several important officials had been scheduled to give speeches at the ceremonies and among them happened to be that dignitary, who apparently loves to play table tennis. After the speeches and the ceremonies, the U.S. team members were invited to meet and take pictures with the mayor as a bonus.

All in all, the U.S. juniors had an experience they will never forget and by which they will benefit for years to come. Nothing can take the place of international match experience in the development of these promising juniors. Their minds have been opened and expanded in innumerable ways by this trip and all are eager to battle again next year. On behalf of the U.S. Junior Team, I'd like to extend a huge thank you to USATT!