Juniors of the Month: Michael Shao & Khaleel Asgarali

2002 U.S. Under 16 Boys’ Doubles and Team Champions

Khaleel and Michael, along with Pan Lin and Eric Finkelstein (previously profiled), dominated the Under 16 boys’ events at the last Junior Olympics/Junior Nationals. The two won gold in doubles and teams, as well as a handful of silver and bronze medals in the singles events. The two get great competition in Maryland, especially when playing in the Maryland Elite League on Saturdays, where the players range from 2100 to 2500.

Khaleel has been playing for as long as he can remember. He has been playing ever since he could hold the racket (because his father was a member of the national team for Trinidad and Tobago). He played his first tournament when he was nine years old. He started playing at the Baltimore Table Tennis Club (BTTC) and moved up until he could beat every player there.

Khaleel’s family came to the U.S. when he was five, from Trinidad and Tobago, so Khaleel and his sister would have better college opportunities.

Khaleel’s main coach is his father, Nazruddin "Oscar" Asgarali, who is currently rated 2279, but was probably much better during his more serious playing days on the Trinidad and Tobago team. Khaleel has also recently started taking lessons from Coach Jack Huang at the Maryland Table Tennis Center.

Having a father for a coach can be difficult. Khaleel said that they often don’t see eye to eye, and that they are both stubborn. Sometimes Khaleel doesn’t want to talk about a tough match that he lost, and his dad will bring it up. However, they always find a way to make it work.

Khaleel practices at the BTTC with his dad and with Larry Abass about once a week. During the tournament season, he tries to play four times a week. He also plays in the Maryland Table Tennis Center (MDTTC) Elite League on Saturday mornings twice a month.

Khaleel describes his game as close-to-the-table attack, with a very strong backhand and good rallying game. He’s not a power player, but keeps coming at you with his attack. He says he’s working to improve his loop, and wants to develop more power on his forehand side. He’s also working on his footwork, which he says can never be too strong, and on his serve and return of serve. He says he sometimes doesn’t concentrate hard enough, or gets distracted, and so is also working on the mental side of his game. He said that no world-class table tennis player could have such mental weaknesses.

His goal this year is to make the top four at the national junior team trials, and get his rating to about 2400 by the end of the year. His highest rating was 2288, but after two poor tournaments he dropped back to his current but probably under-rated 2132. His best win ever was over Sean O’Neill at the Potomac Open last fall.

Khaleel likes to play a lot of sports, including soccer, basketball, and boxing. He doesn’t play for any school teams or leagues, but just plays other sports for fun and to stay in shape. He says he is too competitive to play team sports – he prefers the games he plays to be determined by himself, because, "If I mess up I can live with that."

His non-table tennis future plans are to go to college and study business and marketing. Someday he wants to own and run his own business.

When Michael was nine, the father of another nine-year-old – Han Xiao – told Michael’s dad about Coach Cheng Yinghua, and they decided to give table tennis a try. About a year later he played his first tournament, and got his first rating – 1021. Later, Michael had a great tournament, winning the under 1100 and under 1300 events, and his rating jumped from 1110 to 1564. It was right after his birthday, and he said it was a great birthday present and a big confidence builder. Since that time, his rating has been climbing almost continuously.

Michael was born in China, but came to the U.S. when he was two years old. His dad came to the U.S. to attend graduate school at Virginia Tech. Michael and his mom came to visit, liked the U.S., and decided to stay.

Michael usually plays three to four times a week. He has two private lessons with Coach Cheng each week, as well as a group training session where he plays top players such as Han Xiao, Brian Pace, Sean Lonergan, James Duan, as well as this writer. He usually plays at the Maryland Table Tennis Center and sometimes at the Potomac Table Tennis Club.

Michael is a two-winged looper with great power, both speed and spin. He probably has more pure power than any other junior player in the U.S., and can seemingly rip a winner from either wing anytime with either a loop or a smash. He is working hard with Coach Cheng to develop his footwork and consistency.

Michael told Coach Cheng that his goal was to reach 2400 before he goes to college. Cheng thinks he can do it, but that he will have to work hard. With Michael recently improving to 2193, he is well on pace to reaching this goal and going beyond it. His "secret" goal is to play in the 2008 Olympics at his birthplace, Beijing. He says it may be a long shot, but anything is possible.

Outside of table tennis, his long-term goals are to go to a good college, get a good job, and "get rich."

He is a big fan of all kinds of sports, but his favorite is basketball, which he both plays and watches. He also likes music, and his friends tell him he should be on American Idol because they say he is a great singer. Outside of sports and music, he says his life is uneventful – except for his brand new Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe! Michael is counting the days until he gets his driver’s license – but by the time you read this, he should have it, and the roads will be his. Could this lead to more practice sessions?