The Phoenix Park Table Tennis Club (PPTTC), established in 2014 by Paul Bronstein and Graeme Scarlett, says it caters for players of all abilities – from beginners to hot shots! Their youngest player is six years old and the oldest is 94 years young.
After being assessed, new players are allocated an initial handicap. At the end of each term (or sooner if appropriate) handicaps are adjusted according to the results of all games. They use a handicap system which allows players of different abilities to play each other fairly, with games being won with 21 points.
For each term you can choose to play socially, or join a team for the competition. You will be in good hands with head coach, Paul Bronstein, who has taught four Olympians and six Paralympians including recent Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games representative Barak Mizrachi.
Paul says, “Many A-grade and state players play and practise at the club including current Australian over 50s Champion Mikhail Geller who trains and plays four or five times a week. We also often have overseas players who play while visiting, including some Chinese and European highly-rated players.”
Mikhail has represented Victoria in the last five Australian Masters teams and also participated in the World Masters Table Tennis Championships, and plans to go to Bordeaux in France in 2020. Mikhail and Paul have won 14 open doubles titles including the recent Victorian Championships.
PPTTC is multicultural with many nationalities represented. In 2017 Sam Parasol, Paul Bronstein and Barak Mizrachi all gained medals in the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Paul coordinates an evening program for players of all ages and abilities. There’s a Seniors group on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 1pm. The club also runs a Junior and Senior coaching program on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30pm to 7pm supervised by Paul. There are usually three coaches at the coaching sessions where they try to cater for the needs of all players of all ages and abilities.
As well as beginners, PPTTC have many State, National and International players in the club and hold competitions and participate in SETTA and TTV teams and individual competitions. Paul says they are also happy to organise coaching programs for schools wishing to use their facilities.
For morning sessions contact Angelo Delsante on 0430 167 624.
For evening sessions contact Paul Bronstein 0412 804 036.
http://chadstonetabletennis.com
