TOP NSW TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS RECOGNISED (1948-2020)

On 16 August 2021, Table Tennis Australia (TTA) released the Top 10 Australian National Rankings for top Australian table tennis players from 1948 to 2020.

          Cliff McDONALD                           Paul PINKEWICH                           Gary HABERL

Being ranked in the top 10 table tennis players in Australia was, is and will continue to be a significant achievement to which players aspire. There are hundreds of players who have achieved this feat over the past 72 years, many of whom went on to become greats of Australian table tennis through their performances on the national and international stage.

Two female players and three male players from NSW are identified as the greatest NSW table tennis players in Australia during the past 72 years. They are Paul Pinkewich, Cliff McDonald, Gary Haberl, Dorli Shipp and Michelle Bromley.

              Dorli SHIPP                                                    Michelle BROMLEY

PAUL PINKEWICH

Paul Pinkewich is ranked in the Australian Top 10 Rankings 25 times from 1967 to 2003 during 36 years. This is the most times an Australian male table tennis player appears in Top 10 Rankings. Paul is also ranked Australian No. 1 male table tennis player for 3 consecutive years in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Paul Pinkewich was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame - Athletes Open in 2008 to be recognised for his outstanding contributions to table tennis as an athlete. Paul was also inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame - Athletes Veterans in 2019 to be recognised for his outstanding contributions to table tennis as a veteran athlete. Paul is the only Australian table tennis player who was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame twice in Australian table tennis history.

As the highest honour that can be bestowed by TTA upon an individual for longstanding and valued service to the sport of table tennis in Australia, TTA Life Membership was awarded to Paul Pinkewich in 1982. To underline how prestigious this award is, since TTA inception in 1933, only 24 people have been awarded TTA Life Membership during the past 88 years.

Paul Pinkewich claimed 24 Australian Titles, 6 Oceania Titles, and 14 International Medals. Paul has officially represented Australia at 10 World Championships, 6 Oceania Events and numerous European and Commonwealth Championships over a 25 year period, and represented Australia in 287 International matches.

The Chinese Premier, Zhou Enlai (Right 1st) honoured Paul Pinkewich (middle) and Steve Knapp (Left 1st) on 1 May 1971 by meeting with them in Beijing.

CLIFF MCDONALD

Cliff McDonald is ranked in Australian Top 10 Rankings for 11 consecutive years from 1958 to 1968. Cliff is also ranked Australian No. 1 male table tennis player in 5 of those years in 1959, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1968.

Cliff McDonald was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame in 1996 to be recognised for his outstanding contributions to table tennis as an athlete.

Cliff claimed 14 Australian Titles, 1 Oceania Title and 2 International Medals. Cliff has officially represented Australia at 4 World Championships and 1 SEAPATT Table Tennis Tournament.

GARY HABERL

Gary Haberl is ranked in Australian Top 10 Rankings for 10 consecutive years from 1980 to 1989. Gary is also ranked Australian No. 1 male table tennis player in 4 of those years in 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Gary claimed 21 Australian Titles and 5 Oceania Titles. Gary has officially represented Australia at 1 Olympic Games, 3 Commonwealth Championships, 3 World Championships, 1 World Team Cup, 3 Asian Championships and 2 Oceania Championships.

Gary Haberl was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame in 2008 to be recognised for his outstanding contributions to table tennis as an athlete.

 Gary competed in the men's singles event at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics when table tennis became an Olympic sport for the first time. Gary was the first New South Wales born and grown Australian player to compete at an Olympic Games in table tennis.

                   The Australian Table Tennis Team at 1988 Seoul Olympic Games

MICHELLE BROMLEY

Michelle Bromley (née Beaumont) is ranked in the Australian Top 10 Rankings for 16 years. This is the third most times an Australian female table tennis player appears in Top 10 Rankings.

Michelle Bromley is the first New South Wales born and grown female Olympian in Australian table tennis history. Michelle competed in the women's singles event and the women’s team event at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.  

Michelle claimed 5 Australian Titles and 3 Oceania Titles. Michelle has officially represented Australia at 1 Olympic Games, 1 Commonwealth Games, 1 Commonwealth Championships, 5 World Championships, 2 World Team Cups and 6 Oceania Championships.

DORLI SHIPP

Dorli Shipp is ranked in Australian Top 10 Rankings 9 times in the years from 1948 to 1958. Dorli is ranked Australian No. 1 female table tennis player in 4 of those years in 1948, 1953, 1954 and 1956. This is the fourth most times an Australian female table tennis player is ranked Australian No. 1.

Dorli claimed 10 Australian Titles.

Dorli Shipp was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame in 1996 to be recognised for her outstanding contributions to table tennis as an athlete.

                 The Australian Table Tennis Team at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

Due to their excellent achievements, Paul Pinkewich was awarded Table Tennis Australia’s Victor Barna Memorial Trophy as the Australian Senior Player of the Year in 1971, 1974, 1980, 1981 and 1982, and Cliff McDonald was awarded Table Tennis Australia’s Victor Barna Memorial Trophy as the Australian Senior Player of the Year in 1961, 1964 and 1968. The award and title is the highest honour for an Australian senior player and is awarded annually based on performance and results, combined with an athlete’s conduct.

Vice President of TTNSW, Ted Davis said: “TTNSW is proud of NSW players’ achievements nationally and internationally over the past 72 years. We wish to thank TTA for their concerted effort to capture and celebrate the rich history of Australian table tennis. In particular we wish to thank Marie Pinkewich, TTA Board Member, for her tireless work on this and other recording projects.

Top NSW table tennis players’ contribution to our sport and to our country is respected and remembered forever, especially just during 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.”

Full list for Top 10 Australian Table Tennis National Rankings from 1948 to 2020 can be viewed by clicking here.

https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/news/fcmeu3pythnltqt4.pdf

David Lee and Michael Li wish to gratefully acknowledge Marie Pinkewich, TTA Board Member, Table Tennis Australia and Australian Olympic Committee.