Former Australian champion Paul Pinkewich, owner of Table Tennis World in Caringbah, delivered the three XuShaoFa ITTF approved championship tables with a fourth currently being manufactured in China.

After putting the tables together, Pinkewich gave a short but informative talk to the players, providing a brief overview of his 45-year career among the elite of world table tennis.

“Table tennis is possibly the fastest reflex sport in the world, with the ball sometimes travelling in excess of 160 km/h over a distance of less than 2.74 metres,” Pinkewich said.

“Playing table tennis is a great aerobic workout, and people of all ages can play.”

In addition to the tables, Pinkewich also supplied new bats at a discount to those who required them, as well as replacing bat rubbers for others.

Affectionately known as ‘Pinky’, he has won numerous Australian and State titles in both singles and doubles.

He also played for Australia at several Olympics and world championships, as well as test matches against various nations, ultimately representing his country over 300 times.

This year the Lithgow Association is hopeful of running exhibitions in schools around the district if suitable venues and times can be arranged.

Pinkewich has agreed to help run them if the plans come to fruition.

The association is also in discussions with other central west centres to play inter-town matches.

The new competition kicks off tomorrow night 7 pm in the Old Trades Hall (down the lane next to Waratah Dental in Railway Parade).

The seven as yet un-named teams are:

Team 1: John Cox, Craig Olson, Eric Joyce.

Team 2: Lou Kappos, Linda Kappos, Maurie Poole, Lesley May.

Team 3: Brody Forbes, Carol Poole, Neil Lumley, Ben Cox.

Team 4: Matt Kappos, Sean Jenkins, Pauline Wellfare.

Team 5: Peter Jaccoud, Roy Barlow, Melinda Auld, Megan Kappos.

Team 6: Riza Wiradi, Mark McAulay, Hayden Cox.

Team 7: Leon Rust, Karl Olson, Peter Rosser, William Auld.

For more information contact Pauline on 6355 1377.