A Table Tennis Family: The Pings

Had it not been for Portland, Oregon’s notoriously rainy weather, the American table tennis community would never have had the chance to witness the development of two of its top juniors, Emily and Whitney Ping.

Ken Ping played table tennis for a couple of years in his youth, but did not resume until he moved to Portland at the age of 30. The constant rain made it difficult for him to play court tennis, so he started coming to the Portland Table Tennis Club once or twice each week.

But it was Jim Scott (whom Ken refers to as the PTTC’s "ultimate promoter") who urged Ken to bring along two of his daughters, Emily and Whitney, to participate in club meetings and youth tournaments.

Emily (L) and Whitney in action. Photos by John Oros, copyright 2000.

In the six years that have passed since they started playing, Emily and Whitney (ages 16 and 13, with peak ratings of 2073 and 2048, respectively) have had many remarkable accomplishments and experiences. For example, in 1994, they participated in an Olympic Training Center training camp conducted by national coaches Zhang Li and Li Zhen Zhi. What else has contributed to their success? Emily explains, "We basically got to our level just by playing matches at the Portland club and practicing with our dad. Our dad, who has been rated as high as 2035, started us off first, but we’ve also received training and coaching from Jerome Adancourt, a 2150 player, and Fan Yi Yong, currently the #1 player in America."

Emily, currently U-18 girls #5, says her most important accomplishment was winning the U-16 girls’ event at the 1999 Nationals, where she defeated Jackie Lee in the finals. She had lost to Jackie in the finals of the same event in the previous year. However, she is currently taking a break from the sport and playing high school tennis. Why? "Table tennis took up a lot of my time and I kind of hit the roof here in Portland, where the higher level players don’t vary too much. Also, there weren’t a lot of opportunities out there for me in table tennis in the U.S. Playing in the U.S. doesn’t create a whole lot of major international potential for the future." Did she get tired of hanging out with the predominantly balding, middle-aged population of the PTTC? "No, it wasn’t a lack of social life at all. I had a lot of fun playing and meeting new players and juniors. But high school tennis (I play on Varsity) is more refreshing to me, mainly because it’s something new. There isn’t a lot of pressure on one person because it is more of a team thing, which is what I like."

Whitney Ping has been just as impressive as her big sister, if not even more so. Currently ranked #1 for U-14 girls, she outdistances the #2 player by more than 200 points! This dominance has led to a sponsorship with Butterfly. Highlights from her blossoming career include numerous age titles at both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Open. She also captured the U-2000 title at the 1999 Nationals, and has traveled with the country’s youth team to competitions in Taiwan and Canada, with future trips already scheduled. When asked about her goals for the future, Whitney humbly states, "For now, I’m just trying to get better. At this point, I want to do well in the upcoming U.S. Open and boost my rating." But deep inside, she undoubtedly hopes for future World and Olympic team berths—and at the rate her game is progressing, those "hopes" seem more than likely.

Not only are the sisters awesome table tennis players, they have made their marks in the classroom as well, exemplifying the term "student-athlete." Emily, an incoming junior at Westview High School, currently has a 4.0 GPA despite a challenging curriculum. She also holds vice-presidencies in the school’s Key Club and state champion table tennis club. Although she doesn’t know exactly what she wants to do when she "grows up," she would like to attend Stanford University when her high school years are done. Whitney, an incoming high school freshman, skipped a grade but also manages to maintain straight A’s. She also has a streak of leadership in her, serving as class president, and has her "sights" on a career in ophthalmology (the branch of medical science that studies the eye).

For Ken, watching his daughters’ development in the sport has been more than fulfilling. "I cherish the time I spend participating in table tennis with my daughters, knowing that I could never take them shopping or those other things that girls like. But table tennis has allowed us to share an interest while developing bonds as father and daughter, coach and student, supporter and friend." What does he hope for his daughters in the future? "My dream is for them to have fun, develop lasting friendships, and have a chance to make the U.S. team—what other sports allow such an opportunity?"

The future looks bright for the Ping family, but Ken, Emily, and Whitney won’t be the only ones making headlines. Ken’s other two daughters (Sita, age nine, and Lydia, age six), are embarking on their table tennis journeys, with their big sister Whitney as coach. So, there will be even more ping-ponging Pings to deal with in the future.