Coaching session led by Aleksey Yefremov at Auckland Table Tennis Association

Table Tennis New Zealand, in collaboration with Auckland Table Tennis Association, delivered a creative activation that successfully turned audience interest into real participation on the table.

While the film Marty Supreme provided the setting, the real impact came from what followed. The grand prize from the audience challenge held on the night was a table tennis bat, balls, and a coaching lesson with Auckland Table Tennis Association. 

The coaching session, led by Aleksey Yefremov, took place on 30 January at Auckland Table Tennis Association and proved to be a powerful re-entry point for both returning and first-time players.

One of the returning players was New Zealand actor Sean O’Connor, who had not played table tennis for more than 10 years. Receiving the coaching session encouraged him to step back into the sport and reconnect with his passion.

“I’ve played table tennis a lot as a kid and teenager. This was my first ever coaching session. I’d never thought about the angle of my arm before, so keeping that position is important. A good learning for me.

Focusing on getting fitter would be a big motivation and, in turn, rediscovering my passion for the game. I would recommend table tennis to everyone. Other sports are harder on the body as you age and table tennis does not have the same effect, especially for those in their middle age and later years.”

The session also welcomed Charlie Chen, who moved to Auckland a year ago and had not touched his table tennis bat since relocating. He shared how grateful he was for the opportunity to receive structured coaching and reconnect with the sport in his new city.

Alongside returning players, new participants were introduced to table tennis. Ida Munro attended with her partner Sam Goodey. Ida, a former football player, tried table tennis for the first time and quickly saw how accessible the sport could be.

“We learnt the fundamentals of table tennis, from posture and racket grip to different techniques. Even with just an hour of coaching we were noticeably better by the end of the session, which was very rewarding considering we would never played before.

We’re very tempted to continue learning and having fun by renting a table in the future, especially now we’ve broken the ice and know where to go. It’s a very approachable and social sport. We would love to get a group of friends together, or send them Aleksey’s way for a good crash course.”

This collaboration showed how simple and well-targeted initiatives, such as coaching sessions, can reduce barriers, encourage former players to return to play, and welcome new people into the sport. By providing accessible and welcoming pathways, Table Tennis New Zealand and Auckland Table Tennis Association continue to show that table tennis can be enjoyed at any age and stage of life.