Slice, slice, baby: Cape Girardeau Table Tennis Club hosts citywide pingpong tournament

There was no rainout Saturday during the second citywide pingpong tournament hosted by the Cape Girardeau Table Tennis Club.

Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau donated the venue to the organization for the day, Cape Girardeau native and club founder Michael Oslund said. And since last year, Oslund said he has seen an increase in the sport�s popularity in Southeast Missouri.

Jason Oslund, far left, faces his younger brother Michael Oslund during a match in a table-tennis tournament Saturday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

Oslund works at AT&T and has access to an at-work pingpong table, which he said is what helped create his passion for the game and the idea to form a club and host tournaments.

�We were in our infant stages last year,� he said. �And we�re still plugging along this year, hoping this will really grow us and get us to the next level. It�s been good and I�m hoping it�ll be even better.�

Nibesh Amatya hits the ball over the net during a table-tennis tournament Saturday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

Even though the club publicly began last year, Oslund said, this year the organization is �officially trying to expand.�

�I like table tennis; I�ve been playing it for a while. I looked all around and there was nothing around here, because I wanted to join,� he said. �I didn�t find anything, so I was like, �Well, I guess we�re starting it.��

Matt Gooden returns a serve during a table-tennis tournament Saturday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

There are table tennis teams that travel, Oslund said, but Saturday�s event was �just for fun� and not officially sanctioned.

Oslund said getting the word out and making the club�s existence known has been slow, but people really seem to enjoy the game.

It�s a good pastime, Oslund emphasized, and said it�s �fun for all ages.�

Kevin Francis hits the ball during a table-tennis tournament Saturday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

Twelve-year-old Owen Osborne of Jackson was competing Saturday just for fun, he said, and thoroughly enjoys playing table tennis.

Osborn said he has been friends with Oslund for a long time, and he wanted to support the cause, even though it is �more for adults,� he said.

Rojwol Karmacharya serves the ball during a table tennis tournament Saturday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

�More than just pingpong� is how Oslund�s father, Eric, described the game, while pointing to a group of nearby participants huddled together.

�That�s what it�s really about: the camaraderie,� he said.

Contestant Jason Oslund, Michael Oslund�s brother, considers himself �definitely not pro� when it comes to table tennis, but he enjoys the game.

A ball rests on a scoring sheet during a table tennis tournament Saturday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

�It�s great; there are a lot of good people here. It�s a good turnout,� Jason Oslund said. �And I�ve been beaten much more than I�m used to.�

Last year the event was held at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, Jason Oslund said, but the venue this year was provided free of charge, which allowed the club to waive the registration fee.

Jason Zhang of Cape Girardeau � originally from Wisconsin � used to travel and compete in table tennis tournaments, he said.

Zhang said he started playing table tennis in high school, and continued to play through college. Now, he plays mostly for fun.

�You can burn some calories; it�s indoors and is a good winter sport. It�s fun to play different players and I�m meeting a lot of people,� Zhang said.

Complete results from Saturday and more information can be found on the group�s Facebook page.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

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