Deniliquin-based table tennis player Judy James will represent Australia in the sport in New Zealand next month.
Table tennis champion Judy James has been selected to represent Australia, and is set to play in New Zealand next month.
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At the same time, the nationally ranked player is working on getting a local tournament and coaching lessons off the ground.
James, who is 68 and relocated to Deniliquin two years ago, has played table tennis most of her life.
What began as a game she would play with her father, at their home in rural Victoria, has now taken her to competitions and tournaments around Australia.
And in less than one month, the Deniliquin-based table tennis champion will be travelling to New Zealand and representing Australia internationally.
“This is the first time I've been selected to play for Australia, but I haven't always applied either,” she said.
“I did apply in 2019 and I was selected, but then it didn't happen because of COVID.”
James will be playing in the Penberthy Cup test match between NZ and Australia on April 6.
For the rest of that week she will compete in the 2023 New Zealand Open Veteran Championships.
“The New Zealand players are very good; it's not going to be easy that's for sure,” she said.
Although she plays in the over 65 age group, James said she enjoys playing the younger age groups because they’re a faster game.
“The year I turned 60, I played in the over 30s of our nationals and won a gold medal.
“I was very happy with that.”
James is currently ranked in the top 10 players - nationally and in Victoria - in both the over 60 and 65 age groups.
“It’s just really fun, I like the challenge of trying to win and trying to improve,” she said.
“I love the social aspect of it as well.
“I know people from all around Australia now because we compete against other states as well, especially at the nationals.”
Judy James practices on her home table, playing against a robot.
James said table tennis is a sport for all ages and abilities.
“It's very good for old age; it's a sport you can plan until you die basically - it keeps you alive.
“Our oldest player is 102 and still competing.
“It's very good for the brain, it prevents Alzheimer's and all that sort of stuff.”
As a qualified coach, James says she wants to provide coaching to interested locals.
“We have got the club already registered and affiliated, so it's ready to go,” she said.
“We've got all the tables, got nets, balls, everything like that.
I've also got a robot, which I'm hoping that the kids will enjoy training on.
“It (table tennis) is actually really good for hand eye coordination for kids, and it's also very good for disabled people; we have quite a lot of people in wheelchairs playing,”
James said she has already secured Table Tennis Victoria affiliation for a Deniliquin club.
She also has funding from both NSW and Victoria, and regional or state tournaments in Deniliquin could also be on the cards.
“I am hoping to run a tournament here in Deni, which would be a great source of income for the town as accommodation would be booked out,” she said.
An expression of interest to form a Deniliquin table tennis club went out on Facebook last year, and James said “several people” reached out.
“We got a few replies from the first post we put up, but I know a few people around that are ready to join,” she said.
“I've already got about six or so players, which is really good.”
A start date for a local club and competition is yet to be confirmed.
It will be planned in consultation with the Deniliquin Sports & Entertainment Stadium.
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