BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
GRAPHIC BY HANNAH KITZMANN
Is table tennis a sport, or a hobby? In this week’s TMN Student Organization Feature over the FHSU Table Tennis Club, this decades-long squabble is resolved.
Isabelle Kester, the FHSU Table Tennis Club treasurer, takes a hard stance on the debate. “Table tennis is absolutely a sport. I’ll even take it one step further to say that all sports are hobbies when it comes down to it,” she said.
Although she is strong in her point of view on the topic, she continues by highlighting that table tennis can be played however participants want to.
“The great thing about table tennis is that you can play it as competitively or as leisurely as you would like. Either way, it is always a ton of fun,” Kester said.
FHSU Table Tennis Club Faculty Supervisor, Bader Abukhodair, gives a less firm opinion on the ‘sport vs. hobby’ argument, saying for him it is both a sport and a hobby.
“It is a sport because you need to move and that will cause you to burn calories. However, it is also a hobby because I started playing the game early in my high school years and I still try to practice it when I have the time,” Abukhodair said.
Kester goes on to agree with Abukhodair’s conclusion of how table tennis can help individuals stay active through all phases of life.
“Each season is a chance to stay physically active and to learn a skill that you can enjoy throughout your entire life,” she said.
She then takes this chance to speak on not just the game, but on the club as a whole and the benefits that being involved in clubs like the FHSU Table Tennis Club bears.
“I think the main purpose of the Table Tennis club is to have fun and connect with other students that share the same interest as you. Students are ultimately here to learn and involvement facilitates that learning,” Kester said “Whether you are learning to play table tennis or learning about other people’s lives and experiences, activities and organizations help you grow as a person.”
Abukhodair jumps in to give his unique perspective of being involved on campus as an instructor, rather than as a student.
“As an instructor, these kinds of activities will keep me involved with students on a more personal level,” he said. “In my position, I am able to listen to their concerns about their school workload as well as provide advice on issues they may be having. It is an honor to be able to step into that role.”
Abukhodair continues by giving a heartfelt statement about why he enjoys being the club’s advisor.
“The friendships that I have built with the student body throughout the years have been one of the things I most cherish about being the club’s faculty advisor,” he said.
In a short conclusion, Kester invites anyone who is interested in the club to attend a meeting saying all are welcome.
“You don’t have to be a master of the sport to come and have fun. We provide equipment as well. Every meeting is memorable,” she said. “It is a chance to meet new people who are invested in the same activity that brings you joy. It’s always a blast.”
The FHSU Table Tennis Club “Meetings” or rather, matches take place every Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm in Racquetball Courts 114, 115, and 116 located in Cunningham Hall. For more information on the club, check out their attached Tigerlink page https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/organization/tabletennisclub
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