Interview with USA's Jasna Reed

By Larry Hodges

Clubs

• Perucica – Foca (2 years)

• Mladost – Zagreb (12 years)

• Vojvodina – Novi Sad (1 year)

• Pantheon – Bruxelles (2 years)

• Senta-Senta (1 year)

• Ikeda Bank – Osaka (1 year)

USA Titles

Jasna became eligible to represent USA on December 30, 1999, but was not yet eligible to play in the last USA Nationals in 2000. She was on the 2000 USA Olympic Team and the 2001 USA World Team.

International Titles

• 1988 Olympic Bronze Medal – Women’s Doubles (Seoul)

• 1988 European gold – Mixed Doubles with Ilija Lupulesku (Paris)

• 1992 European gold – Women’s Doubles with Gordana Perkucin (Stuttgart)

• 1988, ’90, ’92 European Bronze – Team Event (Paris, Gothenburg, Stuttgart)

• 1987 #7 at World Championships in Team Event (New Delhi)

• 1991 two Gold’s –Women’s Singles & Doubles at Mediterranean Games (Athens)

• 1991 two Gold’s – Women’s Singles & Doubles at Balkan Games

• A number of 2nd and 3rd places in Singles in International Tournaments (German Open, Romanian Open, Bulgarian Open, U.S. Open, etc.)     

• A number of 1st and 3rd places in Mixed and Women’s Doubles in International Tournaments  (Hungarian Open, German Open, Romanian Open, Bulgarian Open, French Open, Austrian Open, etc.) 

How did you get started in table tennis? How old were you?

I was eight years old when my Mom and Dad decided that I should play some sport. My sister already played table tennis and my uncle was a coach, so it was not a really difficult choice for them to send me to the same place. At first, I did not really like table tennis. As soon as my parents would leave the training hall, I would leave too, and usually sneak next door where there was Karate and Gymnastic training. Everything changed after my first tournament for kids under 10, which I won. I really liked the feeling of winning and that kept me in this sport for such a long time.

What type of training did you undergo during your up-and-coming years?

For the first eight years I practiced only once a day, because I had to attend school every day. In high school it was different because there was a special program for athletes, where we would go to school between practices, so we were able to play twice a day. In those years we had a group of men for sparring partners (girls from “Mladost” team), but we would also sometimes play each other. Usually on Mondays, after tournaments and league matches, we would have physical training. During the week we would do some running and exercising, but not too much, because we wanted to stay fresh for the tournaments on the weekend. I don’t think I ever had a weekend off in those years. There was constantly some kind of match or tournament (Yugoslavian league and tournaments, International Opens, European League, European Championship Cup, Europeans, Worlds, Olympics, Balkan Championship, Mediterranean games, Invitational tournaments, 15-day national training camps, etc.). 

When and for which country did you first make the National Team?

The Yugoslavian team was the only team I ever represented before I came to the U.S.  My first Worlds was in 1987 (New Delhi), but I became a member of the team in 1984.

Why did you leave Yugoslavia for Croatia?

I think that many people are misinformed on this matter, because I never represented Croatia. I lived most of my life in Croatia (my family still does), but when war started I continued to represent Yugoslavia, because my ex-husband is from that area, which is why I moved there. Of course that made many people angry at me, but I think that at that time I had to make the choice that I made, even though I am not saying that it was the right one.

Why did you come to the U.S.?

After my divorce with Lupi (Ilija Lupulesku), I did not have a reason to stay in Yugoslavia, and at that time there were still Croatians who saw me as a traitor, because I represented Yugoslavia, so I first decided to play for a club in Japan. The year there was enough for me. Since Bob Allshouse invited me the year before to live at the training center in Michigan, where I could go to the University at the same time, I decided to try that. Also, many people do not know that my ex-husband Lupi and I had had American green cards since 1994, which is why I was able to become a citizen in 1999. He can do the same as soon as he takes the citizenship test.

You were married to Ilija Lupulesku for a time. Anything you’d like to say about that?

Lupi is a great person. Maybe we were not right for each other as a couple, but we are very good friends. Lupi, Zuza (his wife) and their baby live in Chicago too. Of course, we all have a very good relationship and hopefully it will last. I think that table tennis in the U.S. is richer now, because they now have one of the greatest and most gifted players in the World.

How did you come to change your last name to Reed?

I moved to the U.S. in 1996, and I still had my married name (Lupulesku). I needed to change to my maiden name (Fazlic), but I did not really want to have my old name again, so I decided to take an American name. At that time I was living in the training center (Bob’s Spa) in Michigan. One day at lunch we were all trying to find some family name for me. There were all kinds of ideas, but at the end Barney (we were dating then) said why don’t I change my name to Reed, because I was looking for a short American name. I told him that everybody will think that we are married, because people did not have a clue that I already had a green card (for two years), so they would think that I married him for papers. Barney said who cares what they think, let them think whatever they want. So, I went to court, filed the application to change the name and in the one month it was approved, after which I had to go in front of a judge and got my certificate of name change. If anybody doesn’t believe me, I am more than happy to release the certificate which shows that I did not change my name by marrying someone. I know that this was not one of my smartest moves, but I did it and of course, I can change my name again to whatever I want. Maybe, we can let all Table Tennis Magazine readers make up some names and vote for them. The only important name for me is my first name – Jasna – which I would never change. Being a girl you end up sooner or later changing your maiden name, so why not play with names and confuse nosy people!

How is table tennis different for you here as opposed to in Europe?

What table tennis here? There are no real professional clubs, no leagues, no full-time players and no money for this sport in the U.S. Let’s face it, without full-time practice you cannot do anything in the World, and you cannot practice full time if you are not paid enough money at least to survive. So, 98% of the top players here are working full or part time, which is far from what Europeans and Asians do. Table tennis is their life, they are paid for doing that, and trust me, it is not just on a survival level, they are actually living very well from their contracts.

Another problem is that we are playing in only two International tournaments a year, and they are competing every weekend. The difference is obvious, and it is really hard to copy all those necessary things from the European model, so we will finally be able to compete with them.

It has been reported that you are the only player to have played in three Olympics with three countries. Tell us about that. I played at three Olympics, but for only two countries. In 1988 and 1992 I represented Yugoslavia. In 2000 I represented USA. When I competed for each I did my best at that moment. I really have strong feelings for my new homeland. I will always do my best when I am chosen to play for the USA team.

What do you like to do outside table tennis? Hobbies, sports, etc.

I am definitely a TV person. I know people usually don’t want to admit how much time they spend and how they love being in front of a TV. Usually their answers are like: Music, Books, Golf, Tennis – and that is usually to impress others. Well, I do like to listen to music, but there are times that I don’t want to hear anything for days. My favorite music would be Alternative and Rock. I could listen to almost anything, except for Country music. Books – I prefer to read in the Croatian language, because it is three times faster for me than reading in English. Golf – I would love to learn to play, but I am not patient enough for that, so maybe not in this lifetime. Tennis – there is too much running around on the court, and Table Tennis is much more interesting, more explosive and a more advanced game, so why even bother learning it. Actually, maybe because they have sexier outfits and higher hills shoes, so the body can look better. I guess that is the only plus of Tennis over TT. I do like to see good plays, operas, concerts and movies, but sometimes my financial resources cannot let me enjoy it.

What are your table tennis goals? Since I can finally represent the U.S., I would love if I didn’t have to work and could have enough resources to practice full time and participate in most of the International tournaments, which is the only way to reach the top of the World. 

What are your non-table tennis goals?

To continue with school and receive a Master’s Degree, probably in Education, because I could see myself teaching and maybe having a positive effect on some troubled kid’s life. It would be good if one day I can find and create a happy family, but I am not stressing that too much right now. I guess, if it comes that’s fine, if not than it might be fine or I will have to pretend that is everything just the way I wanted. My first and most important goal is to go to visit my father and sister, because I have not seen them for 2.5 years.

What’s your school and work situation?

I graduated eight months ago with a degree in Political Science. I now work for Computer Consulting Company in Chicago. I do technical support for their software products.

How did you prepare for the Worlds?

It’s impossible to work and really get ready for the Worlds. You need to be a full-time player. I’m able to qualify without practicing too much, but in most countries I would never make the team without training full time. This is true of all of us on the team, because we can’t make a living at table tennis.

How often do you change rubber?

I put new rubber on every day during important tournaments. If there are no tournaments coming up, then every 5-7 days.