Would you mess with this man? Look at how he's holding his ping-pong paddle. That's skill. See the agile way that he has his feet planted. That's the fierce competitive nature within him. I hate to brag, but Kwang was on his high school's ping pong team. He also hates to loose...would you take him on?
I think not.
The competition, Alex, Kwang's co-worker. He's also got a mean serve and that same instinctual prowl for the kill. These guys hit fast and will do anything it takes to win a point. Myself on the other hand learned how to play ping-pong in my 7th grade gym class. It was a unit that included shuffle board and some other geriatric sports-like activity. I do not play here as I think I might embarrass Kwang. I'm actually lucky to be allowed into this establishment.
Ping-pong rooms are common here in Korea. You can rent a table by the half hour for about $3. They serve soda, but no beer which seemed like a shame to me. Then again it's considered a sport here instead of a drinking game. There were several other tables around us all separated by green mesh curtains. I was particularly proud of the woman playing in the doubles match behind us, sort of a heroine in my book.
I am very glad to say that I have indeed played table tennis with Kwang in Portland and have lived to tell the tale! My form was more lax, however.
ReplyDeleteVery well written post with beautiful pics. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
Offering billiards table