A large proportion of foreign workers make up the table tennis community in the CNMI, notes Scott Houston development officer of Oceania Table Tennis Federation.
Houston was on island for four days last week sharing the basics of table tennis to children and adult beginners. The Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association in its effort to develop ping pong on Saipan invited Houston. The group is looking forward to get the NMI into international table tennis competitions.But unlike many of other sports in the islands, ping pong which is still in its infancy stage on Saipan is getting the interest of foreign workers mostly from Asia where the said sport is popular.Since the federalization that will take effect on Nov. 28 will decrease the number of foreign workers, Houston expressed belief that the number of people playing table tennis on the island will also drop.This is one of the possible difficulties that the table tennis community is facing at the moment, he said.“Obviously, with the changing immigration laws the potential for the foreign workers to have their working visas renewed will decrease meaning that there may be a drop in the number of people playing table tennis here,” Houston said.However, there is also a positive side of the issue.Houston said the good news is that there is a five year transitional period which will enable the ping pong organizers for suitable planning.Given the potential shown by the local school students during his visit, “one feels there is still room for table tennis to grow in the NMI.”MATTA, he said lead through this transitional period, and Steve Lim, the group’s president for 11 years definitely has in his heart the betterment of table tennis, as he understands the local situation very well.In the past, Houston also noted MATTA tasted success with their Men’s National Team claiming the gold medal on home soil during the 2006 Micronesian Games.This was no doubt an extremely proud moment in the history of table tennis in the NMI.Houston thanked MATTA hosting the most hospitable visit.“No doubt the Oceania Table Tennis Federation will remain in close communication with them to ensure that table tennis both remains and prospers throughout the NMI,” he said adding it will be the situation that will enable table tennis to continue to flourish—a successful past and a successful future.
