Senior Corner

"Everything, all over the world, is afraid of time," emphasizes an ancient saying, "But time is scared of Pyramids." There was a great opportunity for those who were participating in the first Egyptian International Veteran Open Table Tennis Championships to face in person, these pyramids, an ancient symbol of immortality. These Championships were held last Oct. 19-25, in Sharm El-Sheikh, at Domina Coral Bay, one of the most modern hotels in the world, with its variety of entertainment and with organized tours to the pyramids. A sole consolation for those who could not attend this tournament is that the next Egyptian World Veteran Tournament will be held Sept. 19-25, 2004, in the same place. Dr. Azmy Ibrahim, a member of the ITTF Rules Committee and member of our USATT Senior Committee, highly recommends that table tennis players "start packing their gear." (See his article in the Jan/Feb 2004 USATT Magazine, "A World Tournament of Fun.")

Another new attraction for Senior table tennis players is the $12,000 Meiklejohn Quaker City Open, March 26-27 in Philadelphia, which will feature many senior events. Richard Lee and his efficient NATT staff are running the tournament. Trophies and cash awards of over six thousand dollars will be given to winners in the age events (40-80+) with another six thousand dollars open to players of all ages. Please note in your calendar, too, that such Senior Quaker City tournaments will be held for at least five consecutive years in Pennsylvania in March, thanks to William and Louise Meiklejohn’s sponsorship! Bill loves doing generous things for his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.

Don’t miss another prestigious Senior Table Tennis Tournament – the Meiklejohn National Senior Championships – with over $15,000 in prizes. It will be held June 3-6, 2004 Leisure World, Laguna Woods, California. All entries and fees should be postmarked by Friday, May 7, and should be sent to its director, Ray Kunze.

There is other great news for the Southwestern areas of the country. The Texas Wesleyan Senior Tour is planned for August 2004. Tournament director Christian Lillieroos is excited by the thought of developing this new tournament structure. He states, "In the USA, as far as an older player is concerned, the tournament structure is the best in the world. The United States has more active tournament Senior players than any other country. We need to capitalize on our strength. With the high enthusiastic involvement from Seniors, this will bring a positive ripple effect to the whole sport of table tennis, it will improve a network of contacts and business relationships which will benefit everybody."

A very informative letter from Dora Morrison, Portland, Oregon, deserves readers’ attention. As a nonagenarian, Dora had participated two years ago in the first over 90 event in the Meiklejohn National Seniors. Last year she was also competing in the Huntsman World Senior games, in addition to the Meiklejohn National Seniors! Since Dora has started paying in the USATT sanctioned tournaments, she became an active promoter of table tennis locally among residents of a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Portland, Oregon. The average age of these table tennis enthusiasts, including Dora, is 82. Let’s take our hats off to Dora! And those of you who attended the U. S. Nationals in Las Vegas remember Alan Williams paying tribute to Romo Chernoff, during the final matches, who at 90 was back competing again in his favorite sport.

Let’s join together in our endeavor to promote table tennis not only among our youth but among those who have reached their Senior years of life!

The best is yet to come.