Ping-Pong: A Popular Pastime at Community Center

On Saturday afternoon the tink of ping-pong balls can be heard throughout the Potomac Community Center as the Potomac Country Table Tennis Club holds its weekly practice.

At the Oct. 2 practice, 14 ping-pong tables were filled with club members working on their skills — many were preparing for a tournament, while others were there just to have fun and work up a sweat.

"It is fun. It has feeling," said 9-year-old Derek Nie about the Potomac Country Table Tennis Club.

Derek, who is currently the youngest member of the club, and his brother, 14-year-old George, have been members of the table tennis club about three months.

"There's a lot of good players here," said George, who will compete at the North American Teams Championships in Baltimore on Thanksgiving weekend. "I want to get some practice and have fun."

The PCTTC has been at the Potomac Community Center for more than 20 years and at the Clara Barton Community Center for more than five years, said Club President Herman Yeh.

Yeh said the club currently has 143 members, ranging from ages 9 to 77, with ten female members.

Reginald Sotero, who has been a member for three years, is currently preparing for tournaments he is competing in during the next three months. Sotero said the Potomac Community Center is the best place to play, not only because of the level of competition, but also it is more affordable than other clubs.

Annual membership for the club is $60 or $40 for seniors over 65 years old and juniors under 18 years old.

Diep Luu has been a club member for ten years and calls himself an average player. He said table tennis is just like any other competitive sport.

"When you play, it takes your mind off of everything else," Luu said.

The PCTTC has two USA Table Tennis sanctioned tournaments per year and their next tournament is scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7.

The club meets at the Potomac Community Center every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.