Naperville table tennis tourney draws all ages, abilities

If you wouldn't think of leaving home without your table tennis paddle, the Naperville Table Tennis Tournament is for you.

But even if you're a casual player, you'll find your place at the annual competition organized by the Naperville Park District and the Naperville Table Tennis Club.

The annual Naperville Table Tennis Tournament runs 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at River Woods Elementary School, 2607 River Woods Drive, Naperville.

The tournament is open to all interested players of any age and experience level. Awards are given by coed age divisions for children, and for men and women in the "open" division for those 18 and older and the "masters" division for those 50 and older. In addition to involving many players from Naperville, the tournament typically draws players from the entire northern Illinois region.

"A sport that can be played for a lifetime, table tennis is easy to learn as a beginner, yet requires practice and skill at advanced levels and provides a great workout," Program Manager Brock Atwell said. "Last year, the tournament attracted players at all levels in a variety of age groups. We even had a 13-year old play in the men's division and win it."

Players can register for the tournament in advance for $8 at napervilleparks.org/calendar. On-site registration is $10 and begins at 8 a.m. for the adult divisions and at 10:30 a.m. for the youth divisions. Space is limited; any registration after the check-in time will be processed on a space-available basis only.

For those interested in table tennis beyond the tournament, the Naperville Table Tennis Club meets weekly for practices and games. The club is open to new players. Visit napervilleparks.org to learn more and to register.