WAIMEA – The unmistakable sound echoing throughout Waimea Community Center – the sound of ping pong balls ricocheting off paddles, tables and walls – could only mean one thing: competitive table tennis has finally made its return to Hawaii.
Players from around the state assembled in Waimea over the last weekend to hold a USA Table Tennis-sanctioned tournament for the first time since November of 2019. 31 players from Oahu, Maui and the Big Island competed in the 2022 Big Island Open.
“Table tennis is really a fun sport,” said tournament director Len Winkler, who made note of the wide age range – from 11 years old to over 80 years old – of the tournament’s competitors. “We have kids who are beating the adults… This is one sport where kids are as good or better than the adults.”
Takumi Landi – the tournament’s youngest competitor – proved Winkler right, turning in one of the better performances of the tournament to take second in the Super Round Robin B.
The star of the show, however, was the state’s top-ranked player: Carlos Ko. Ko won the Super Round Robin A, the Men’s Open and paired with George Aukon to take first in the Draw Doubles, as well.
“He’s the real deal,” said Winkler.
Winkler hopes this weekend’s tournament helps to build interest both on the Orchid Isle and across the state in one of the world’s most played sports.
“In the United States, most people take table tennis as ping pong, as a recreational activity rather than an Olympic sport, which it is,” said Winkler. “We have four clubs that are active on this island now.
“One is at the YMCA in Hilo, one is at Yano Hall in Captain Cook, one is here and one is in North Kohala in Kapaau. Everybody’s invited to come and play; all skill levels are welcome. It’s a great sport.”
2022 Big Island Open
May 14-15, Waimea Community Center
Event 1st Place2nd Place
Women’s Open: Kiyoko Endo Kimi Yoshimiya
Super Round Robin A: Carlos Ko Benjamin Chan
Super Round Robin B: Takeo Nakamura Takumi Landi
Super Round Robin C: Wayne Henry John Buck
Super Round Robin D: Daniel Young Kimiko Yoshimiya
Draw Doubles: George Aukon/Carlos Ko 2nd Place: Kiyoko Endo/Chi Chung Eddy Wu
U-1000 RR: Lory Hunter Ian Dugan
Men’s Open: Carlos Ko Benjamin Chan
U-1600 RR: John Romoa Jeffrey Cumes
