Site Products
Angie Tan

Table Tennis Amidst the Pandemic

(By Angie Tan)

In a time where a cough will attract hundreds of glares and a maskless face causes others to repel yards away from you, I managed to continue picking up my table tennis paddle and driving with all my might.

Despite not being able to practice with my coaches for a period of time, I was lucky to have a training partner, my sister Emily, who is around the same level as me and a supportive club, SVTTC, that allowed us to train by ourselves. With a club that is walking-distance from our house, my sister and I could walk to SVTTC and train with each other whenever we wanted.

The first practice with Emily during the pandemic was unforgettable. I no longer heard the bouncing of the balls and the squeaking of the shoes when I entered. The red carpet was also unusually clean with bright new duck tape along the edges and no plastic water bottles laying around. The paddle or water bottle or towel that people would occasionally forget to take home was gone. Most importantly, I couldn’t feel the tension in the air or smell the sweat that lingered – these small signs often reminded me of how hard others were working and pushed me to do the same. 

With no one to watch us and monitor our progress, the only thing that kept us on our toes was our anticipation for the next upcoming tournament. I’ll never forget the excitement and competitiveness that is felt during tournaments; they kindle my thirst for victory. Every dripping bead of sweat signaled that an extra point will be won during deuce. Every extra rally was a step closer to victory.

During the pandemic, there are no tournaments, but what remains is the passion for the sport. Despite the many mishaps, this pandemic has made me even more sure that table tennis is already part of my identity. Nothing can stop me from playing.

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

Latest News

Play 60% of Your Maximum Power

July 23, 2025
Robot will play RANDOM top spin balls anywhere on the table, either Forehand topspin or Backhand topspin to… Read More

Don’t Hang Out

July 21, 2025
Robot will play RANDOM top spin balls to 2/3 of the table (Forehand), only Forehand topspin to Backhand… Read More

#4 Heavy Pushes that don’t let the opponent take the initiative (final episode)

July 21, 2025
Feature] [Special feature] America’s star! Jha’s strong points #4 Short Pushes that don’t let the opponent take the… Read More

Three Things You Want To Do In The First Game

July 21, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Establish your game. For example, if you have a strong third-ball attack, such as short… Read More

Kevin Doyle – Counterloop Variation

July 21, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kevin Doyle https://youtu.be/wBDNHVdu33w Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis… Read More

Major League Table Tennis: New Rules for a New Season

July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) As Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) prepares to launch its third season this September, the league… Read More

Latest Rankings

July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Despite some surprises at the United States Smash, the World Rankings saw very little changes… Read More

European Youth Championships

July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Ostrava, Czech Republic is host to this year’s European Youth Championships.  In the… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.