Interview With Tawny Banh

Tawny: I started to play at age 13 in Alhambra, California. This is fairly late, considering the fact that my former & current U.S. teammates all started before they were seven years old. The way I started out is quite weird. I played with my older siblings on a small table with a wooden racket and a cardboard net. (I absolutely don’t recommend this!) It was just for fun.

Tawny: I’d like to take the opportunity to credit my one true coach, Richard Ching (several times a Filipino National Team Member & Singles Champion in the mid ‘80s). When Ching first coached me for one and a half months, my rating jumped 250 points. Under his superb guidance from ‘88-90, I gained about 600 rating points. Unfortunately, in 1990, he had to return to the Philippines due to family reasons. I have the utmost respect for him because not only did he voluntarily coach me, but he treated me like a sister, friend, and practice partner. Without Ching, there wouldn’t be a Tawny today!!! After his departure, I basically played on my own with friends at Almansor Park. My current coach is Tang Gao Lin, former coach of World Champion Chen Longcan and our Cheng Yinghua. Before he came to the U.S. in July 2000, he had coached the Malaysian, Indonesian and Thailand National Team. He’s currently an honorary coach at Jerry Young’s LATTA (Los Angeles TT Association). Lastly, my lifetime table tennis coach will always be my oldest brother, Tin.

Tawny: My #1 supporters are my loving family. They have a lot of faith in me and allow me to make my own table tennis decisions. Yasaka is my table tennis sponsor. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to receive supplies directly from Japan, and the best part is that they are very generous. My other supporters are Mr. Jerry Young and his Los Angeles TT Association(LATTA), Dr. Jiing Wang (SGVTTC), and Mr. Yungtai Hsu (Pacific Athletic Center). Because of all this support, I’ve managed to have a successful career for the past three years.

Tawny: There are many clubs in Southern California. The disadvantage is that all the top players are spread apart. My practice partners include the whole gang at LATTA, even President Jerry Young & Treasurer Duc Loi! Among them are James Sun, Yao Xi Huang, Keith Loi, Marek Szpakiew, Eric Lam, David Roberts and June Valencia. Although everyone is rated 100-300 points lower than I (except one), I always feel that I learn something when we play together. Thanks, guys! How often I practice depends on my college schedule.

Tawny: I have trained solely in the U.S., with the exception of a three-week training camp in China in March prior to the 2000 Olympic Trials. The training was average, but it was enough to help me earn a spot on the 2000 Olympic Team. Numerous people praised me for being so successful for starting late, having extremely limited coaching, and especially training only on U.S. soil. I feel that if I had the formal training and coaching my current and former U.S. teammates had when they were young, I’d be an even better player.

Tawny: My first greatest accomplishment would definitely be qualifying for the 2000 Olympic Team. I’m most proud of qualifying for singles & doubles with my OWN blood and sweat! My next greatest accomplishment is qualifying for the U.S. National Team for seven consecutive years (1994-2000). Lastly, winning a gold medal in the team event against Canada at the ‘99 Pan American Games.

Tawny: There’s no simple answer. For me to beat Gao, I would have to put a lot of time, effort, energy, and discipline into my training. And I just don’t have that much time! I have other things going on in my life. She was former World Team & Doubles Champion and teamed up with Olympic & World Gold Medallist Deng Yaping & Qiao Hong. I’m already lucky that we’re on the same team and that I’m playing against her on a competitive level. When we first played five years ago, she beat me 21-7.

Tawny: It would definitely be Jan-Ove Waldner of Sweden. He’s the "Michael Jordan of Table Tennis!" He not only has the best sportsmanship, but he also captured every major international title there is. Most importantly, he has lasted for almost two decades, still defeating top world players (Kong Linghui, Liu Guoliang, Wang Liqin) that are 10-15 years younger. Every top player during his time has either retired or is a coach. The bottom line is that Waldner makes table tennis look so simple that anybody can literally pick up a paddle and play. NOT!!!

Tawny: I love to listen to music, watch movies & sports (all except hockey & soccer), and of course, SHOP for clothes.

Tawny: I would love to play table tennis full-time, but I’m currently a senior at California State University of Los Angeles. Obtaining a college degree is vital in life, everyone should have one. The 4-5 classes I have left before I graduate are very difficult, so I think I will have less time to practice this year. I’m also coaching a youth program during the weekend, sponsored by LATTA.

Tawny: My short-term goal is to become U.S. National Champion and to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team as long as I play. My intermediate goals are to become North American & Pan American Singles Champion. Also, I want to improve my world ranking to top 100. Right now, I’m ranked 150. It’s hard to improve my ranking because the U.S. Team hardly gets a chance to participate in international competitions. Unlike the U.S. rating system, your world ranking decreases when you don’t compete. My long-term goal is to make the 2004 Olympic Team – that is, if I continue to play.

Tawny: In the future, I would like to open a chain of businesses and run them with my family.

Tawny: Discipline yourself! One will definitely face many difficult obstacles in their career. Don’t let it overcome you, you overcome them. Believe in yourself, never give up and you will achieve!