Sorry for the short notice but we just found out College Avenue Gym is closed for today (http://www1.recreation.rutgers.edu/Facilities/Default.asp#c2sf6st0) which means no practice :(

See you all on Thursday

RUTTC

The Rutgers Table Tennis Club will swing away Saturday as it competes in the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association’s spring regional tournament at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

The team has its sights set on placing first in the tournament and advancing in April’s national tournament as it squares off against No. 1-ranked Columbia University.

Club Vice President Kenneth So said Columbia is one of the team’s biggest rivals. Still, members are confident in their ability to be victorious next week in New York.

“I think we definitely have the chance to win it all,” said Stephen Le, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student. Club President Judy Hugh said she initially felt uneasy about the year. “I had low expectations,” said Hugh, a School of Arts and Sciences junior.

But the team’s performance proved Hugh wrong. The club is coming off a successful 2009 season, where Hugh won the Women’s Singles Championship. For her, table tennis is not just a hobby — it is her life. She travels to China every summer to train with the women’s national team. “[The Chinese national team] trains 6 hours a day, six days a week and play a little bit on Sunday,” Hugh said. “But that’s why they’re the best.” Hugh, whose mother is a two-time Olympian, tried out for the 2004 and 2008 Olympics but was cut in the final round of tryouts. “I want to go to the Olympics at least once,” she said. “2012 is my best shot. After that, I’ll be too old,”

School of Arts and Sciences junior Khaled Elfarra said he was not expecting much from the club at first either but now comes to practice with the determination to compete nationally. “I joined just to get a break from classes, just to come here and have fun,” he said. “Everyone here is just so good that they make you better.” Elfarra, who was among the Junior League top 16 in his home country of Egypt, gave up table tennis when he moved to the United States in 2002 but picked it up again once he enrolled in college.

But he is not the only member who started playing at a young age. Le chalks up his success to being introduced to the sport early. “[Starting young] was definitely a big advantage,” Le said. “I’ve been playing since I was 8 years old.” Stephen Zhao, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, heard about the group and joined after not playing since middle school. “For a lot of us, it’s just fun competition,” he said, while helping new club members with their swing at practice. “Making regionals is pretty big, but the goal is definitely making nationals.”

At practice Zhao, like most members, spends most of his time playing a teammate and the rest helping others. Hugh, on the other hand, does all of that and puts in time volleying against the table tennis robot Newgy Robo-Pong 2040 on one of its highest settings. With a look of determination on her face, Hugh returned every ball the robot shot at her with ease. She did not miss one.

The club went through a major rebuilding period at the beginning of the season, So said. Of the team’s top four players last year, three graduated. So, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, understands the importance of the tournament in achieving the team’s goal at the tournament. “It all comes down to spring regionals,” he said. “We have to place first or get a wild card spot.”
Whatever the outcome this weekend, Elfarra said the future is bright for this young club only in its 10th year of existence.

“Next year we [will be] looking even better,” he said. “We’re just going to keep on getting better and better from now on.”

http://www.dailytargum.com/university/team-to-rally-for-spot-in-new-york-competition-1.2162738

Rutgers has an event coming up called Feud for Food, on Feb. 17th (Wednesday night). It’s basically Family Feud. We’re hoping to enter 2 teams of about 4 people, because each team we enter helps us fundraise for the club. The winning team will receive some type of grand prize and proceeds go to Haiti, a very good cause. Anyone that’s interested can stay a little bit after on Saturday’s (tomorrow’s) practice so we can organize it, and it will cost $5 per person to enter.

Also, we’re going start collecting dues, for those who did not pay for the full year in the fall or are new members. Dues are $25 for the semester, and can be paid to either Judy or Shriya.

The status of tomorrow’s practice is actually up in the air, due to the forecast of inclement weather, so make sure you check http://campusstatus.rutgers.edu/ to see if RU is closed before you head out to the gym tomorrow. Otherwise, see you guys tomorrow!

RUTTC

I’m excited to announce that the new official Rutgers Table Tennis T-shirts have arrived!

This is what they look like: http://rutgerstabletennis.com/wp-content/gallery/shirtdesign/ruttc_logo_shirt_6.jpg

Get something awesome to wear (especially in tournaments!) for just $15! Available starting this Saturday!

RUTTC

Thank You,

RUTTC

Just a reminder, the first practice of the new semester has finally come! We will start setting up at 7:30pm tomorrow (Jan 28th) in the College Ave Upper Gym, and we’ll have the gym until 9:30pm.

Bring your rackets and we hope to see you all there!

RUTTC

We have narrowed down our t-shirt design to 5 options and we need YOUR input to help us decide! We have set up a poll where you can all vote! Please vote below even if you do not come to the club to play, we could still use your input. Most importantly, LEAVE COMMENTS! We will take suggestions into consideration. These designs are not final and can always be altered, so all your comments are welcome!

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Poll closed. View Results here!