VOLUNTEERS OF TABLE TENNIS NSW ARE AWARDED

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the sport of Table Tennis, and table tennis wouldn’t be possible without the diligent work of our volunteers: the passionate army of coaches, officials, administrators, parents, fundraisers and supporters who seek to mobilise and advance the game every day all years around.

17 - 23 May 2021 is Australian National Volunteer Week, and it is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteers. Each year almost six million volunteers across Australia dedicate over 600 million hours to help others.

Due to their significant contributions, three Table Tennis New South Wales members were awarded National Table Tennis Volunteer Awards by Table Tennis Australia (TTA) during the past two years. This award honours outstanding long-term and sustained volunteer service to the sport of table tennis by an individual, for the benefit of the sport and wider community.

Paul Zhao was awarded TTA 25 Years of Service Award in 2019

Paul Zhao was the National Coach for Australian Men's Team, 2016 World Championships, Bremen, Germany, Australian Men's Team, 2005 World Junior Championships, Linz, Austria and 2003 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

Paul Zhao was also National Assistant Coach for 2013 Commonwealth Championships, Delhi India, 2013 ITTF Training Camp, 2013 JEMATI ITTF Global Junior Circuit Event, 2013 BCI ITTF-Oceania Junior Championships, New Caledonia, 2014 ITTF-Oceania Cup and Championships in Bendigo, 2014 ITTF Australian Open, 2015 ITTF Australian Open, 2016 ITTF Australian Open and 2017 ITTF Australian Open.

Paul Zhao has been Table Tennis New South Wales State Coaching Director since 2002 and coached dozens of players to become State Champions and National Champions. Pail Zhao is also the owner of Paul Zhao Table Tennis Academy.

Inh Van Le was awarded TTA 25 Years of Service Award in 2020.

Inh Van Le has devoted his time to help organise the annual Australian Vietnamese Table Tennis Championships, managing numerous tournaments in Bonnyrigg, and mentored several coaching course participants in NSW.

Inh Van Le has been involved in coaching for the NSW junior state team, as well as school children at Strathfield Boys High School and St. John’s Primary School.  Inh Van Le also helped to deliver school holiday programs and coached veterans at Marrickville.

Inh Van Le was a volunteer at 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and 2003 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

As a veterans’ player, Inh Van Le has enjoyed a phenomenal career, and is a two-time World Veterans Champion and has won 4 medals at the World Veterans Championships. At the National Veterans Championships, Inh Van Le won 20 Men’s Singles, 24 Men’s Doubles and 11 Mixed Doubles national titles. Inh Van Le had the honour of being one of the inaugural Veterans players to be inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame in 2019.

Ken Sands was awarded TTA 50 Years of Service Award

Ken Sands’ journey in table tennis started as a player in 1964, and he is still actively playing now and is a regular member of the NSW Veterans Team, where he has won multiple medals and titles at the National Veterans Championships. Ken Sands served on the committee at Goulburn Table Tennis Association for many years before retiring and moving to Port Macquarie, where he was instrumental in reviving the Port Macquarie Table Tennis Club. Ken Sands is a current Committee Member and former long-term President of the NSW Country Table Tennis Association and successfully refreshed the NSW Country Championships – an event that now attracts around 200 participants every year. Ken is also an accredited coach, travelling to Coffs Harbour and Nambucca to coach and mentor numerous players.

Tony Aduckiewicz, President of TTNSW, said "Table Tennis New South Wales is very proud of Paul Zhao’s 25 Years of Service Award in 2019, Inh Van Le’s 25 Years of Service Award in 2020, and Ken Sands 50 Years of Service Award in 2020. These are truly exceptional achievements. Their effort and achievements remind us that anyone can make a difference."

Ted Davis, Vice President of TTNSW, said: “To acknowledge and celebrate these outstanding contributions will ensure that table tennis is fun, safe, welcoming and played in the best spirit possible in NSW and across Australia. These national awards provide a tangible way for TTNSW and the table tennis community to recognise and commend the remarkable achievements of those people making a significant and genuine difference to the sport.”

As Australia celebrates the outstanding contribution of volunteers to our sports and communities, TTA CEO Scott Houston sends a big thank you to TTA Volunteers across the country on 17 May 2021, and the details can be found from the following link:

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