Club of the Month: New York TTC

By Michael Kendal

The New York Table Tennis Club located at 35-26 Prince St. in the heart of downtown Flushing, NY, has been a magnet for table tennis enthusiasts since 1994.  This great location lends itself to an evening (or afternoon) of play usually followed by an authentically cooked Chinese meal at the many restaurants within its vicinity.  The club is run by Hui Yuan Liu, euphemistically known as Coach Liu.  Coach Liu takes the game seriously, attracting many high caliber players, including the legendary Alex Tam, one of the best players in the world during his heyday.  Other regulars include top-rated Shao Yu and Stephanie Shih, who is on the USA junior national team and a student of Coach Liu’s.  What makes the New York Table Tennis Club special is that not all players are top rated but all who utilize the club (including non-members) are treated as if they are.

If you want to elevate your game you might want to become a student of Coach Liu’s.  Coach Liu offers world-class training for a very reasonable price.  Attesting to his coaching ability is Deng Yaping, a former student and a world woman’s champion for a number of years. Of course not all players are destined to become world champions but whether you are six or sixty he patiently offers advice on how to better your game. Thanks to Coach Liu and his valuable insight I know that my game has significantly improved.

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