SWAYTHLINGIssue No.109 October 2020 WORLD TABLE TENNIS DAY AT HOME MOMENTOUS MONTHS DINA’S DYNASTY MY TIME MY DESTINY INTREPID ADVENTURER SCOTT OF THE PACIFIC RYAN JENKINS PRIDE OF WALES YEARS AGO SINGAPORE’S INTRICATE RECORDS 10 FINEST HOUR DUTY BEFORE MIND OVER BODY AMBITION IRON MAN WITH EVER RELIABLE Matilda Ekholm HEART OF GOLD ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PHILIPPE DUMONTEIL THE MAN FOR ALL SEASONS 2 SWAYTHLING Issue No.109 October 2020 Editor Cover: Dina Meshref Ian Marshall Sub Editor Richard Scruton Statistician Matt Solt Printed by Anton Hamran NEXT Contributors Nelson Ayres, Nenad Bach, Christian Belter, Closing date for contributions for the next issue (no.110) is Monday 1st March 2021. Claude Bergeret, Francesca Bullock, Peter Kindly send to: [email protected] or [email protected] Charters, Simon Daish, Dao Zhou, Miguel Daxner, Kim Daybell, Philippe Dumonteil, Kristin Duval, Steve Eades, Matilda Ekholm, Sarah El Arousy, Zean Fakaros, Feng Tianwei, Mario Genovese, Per Hällström, John Hilton, Chuck Hoey, Scott Houston, Alan Hydes, Ryan CONTENTS Jenkins, Peter Johansson, Darko Jorgic, Dina Swaythling club news........................................................................................4 Meshref, Olalekan Okusan, Laszlo Peli, Phong Dina’s dynasty..................................................................................................8 Pham, Jean-Michel Saive, Manfred Schillings, My time, my destiny ........................................................................................14 Diane Schöler, Eberhard Schöler, Katherine Intrepid adventurer, Scott of the Pacific......................................................20 Solodka, Rudi Sporrer, Michèle Stim, Andreja 10 years ago, Singapore’s finest hour..........................................................24 Ojstersek Urh, Jose Urh, Diane Webb, Harvey Duty before ambition.....................................................................................28 Webb, Sylvia Worth Intricate records, attention to detail...................................................................32 Photographers Just one step short........................................................................................36 Adewale Adeyemo, Ismail Alfarsi, Malcolm Momentous months........................................................................................38 Anderson, Kolade Aremu, Leah Bach, Adrian Mind over matter, persistence personified......................................................44 Brunette, Miguel Daxner, Alvaro Diaz, Philippe Iron man with heart of gold..........................................................................48 Dumonteil, Matilda Ekholm, Getty Images, Ever reliable, Matilda Ekholm announces retirement...............................52 Rémy Gros, Per Hällström, Scott Houston, Ryan Jenkins, pride of Wales.......................................................................56 ITTF Foundation, Richard Kalocsai, Ireneusz Philippe Dumonteil, the man for all seasons.............................................60 Kanabrodzki, Jens Oredsson, Werner Schnyder, Lucie Simperova, Rudi Sporrer, Robert Valai, World Table Tennis Day at home..............................................................62 Diane Webb, John Wood We remember................................................................................................64 Hitting the headlines........................................................................................68 Designer Jeff Tokaz Maintaining faith Believe in yourself, it is she has set new standards for Egypt, the essential in any sport if Arab world and the whole continent of you are to gain suc- Africa. She has raised the bar. cess; it does not matter The effect is that the young lady from what the level but on Cairo has become a role model. An out- the international stage, going personality, her skill undeniable, her such an approach is ab- attitude and manners always exemplary, solutely vital. You may she ticks all the boxes. not always win but en- tering a contest in which Now she is setting another example for you have confidence in ensuing generations to follow, one that your own ability, gives endorses the fact that a woman from the you the best possible Arab world can feel comfortable in the chance of victory. way she dresses, maintain their religious beliefs and is able to compete in the most Year by year, the celebrated events that sport has to offer. now 26-year-old Dina Meshref has endorsed True to her Muslim faith, hence for- the theory. She has ward, Dina Meshref has decided to progressed from being wear the Hijab. a promising cadet age group player to one who is able to compete at the very highest levels. Playing intelligently, positively and upholding the very best elements of sporting behaviour, 3 Swaythling Club News Jean-Michel Saive back on the road again Always competitive, trying to reach the highest levels, in the world of table tennis he ascended to the very top. Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive was listed in the num- ber one spot on the world rankings for no less than 515 days. More recently he hit the heights again, not once but twice. On Thursday 20th and Sat- urday 22nd August, he cycled to the top of Mont Ventoux, one of the two “sacred mountains”, the other being the Col du Galibier, year after year the highest points on the Tour de France. Three months after his accident Jean-Michel Saive climbed Mont Ventoux twice Pertinently, he completed the task totally unscathed, rather different to Monday 21st May, much closer to sea level; near the stadium of the celebrated football club, Standard Liège, he came to grief. He suffered a cycling mishap not of his own making. At a set of traffic lights, a young cyclist ahead stopped unexpectedly, there was the faintest of collisions but sufficient to unbalance Jean-Mi and cause him to fall to the ground. Unfortunately, he fell on the edge of the pavement and broke his left wrist. Immediately he was taken to hospital and four days later underwent an opera- tion; now he has a metal plate in the wrist. Physiotherapy but being right handed the famed forehand top spin and ability to serve, perhaps not quite as in his heyday, gradually became possible; even quick- er he was back on the bicycle but Zwift, virtual training and not a road junction in sight. However, some five months after the A place of honour for the shirt presented by Eddy Merkcx on Thursday 9th May 2019 in Auderghem when Jean-Michel Saive played his last competitive match 4 accident, golf was still not an option. True to his character, as soon as physical- ly able, Jean-Michel Saive faced his nem- esis. He mounted the trusty bike, climbed the mountain 1,909 metres above sea level and, to a rather more modest extent, followed in the footsteps of a man who is a true legend of sport. In the eyes of those in the know, compatriot Eddy Merckx is the greatest cyclist who ever lived. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, each five times, in addition to being anointed world champion and collecting a multitude of other titles that would fill the Grand Place in Brussels. Now there is a lesson and an example for Jean-Michel Saive, follow Eddy Merckx; next time you reach a set of traffic lights, make sure you are first! Virtual training on Zwift At the top of Col du Galibier First national title for Matthew Syed, 40 years ago held; previously it had been just one com- bined event. It was intended that the perpetual trophy, awarded the previ- ous year when it was a joint happening, should be presented to the boys’ team win- ners and a new trophy would be bestowed on the counterpart girls’ team champions. Sounds simple, in 1979 Market Drayton Junior School had emerged victorious, in 1980 they were rep- resented in the under 11 girls’ competition; once again Bob Bay- liss, the headmaster, a keen table tennis player and redoubt- able golfer, was there to support his pupils. Arriving in the venue he uttered the immortal words “I’ve forgotten the trophy!” A backhand from Andrew Syed, Matthew Syed is front third from left, Peter Charters on the receiving end John Arnold, at the time Chair of the Eng- A celebrated journalist, author and outfit that won the under 11 boys’ title at lish Schools’ Table Tennis Association, broadcaster, English national champion, the English Schools’ Table Tennis Associ- duly found a substitute; returning home, three times the men’s singles winner at ation National Team Championships. He the following week the precious trophy the Commonwealth Championships, on lined up alongside Stephen Bourland, Ian was duly posted to Peter Charters, duty at the Barcelona 1992 and Sydney Metcalfe, Ian Harris and elder brother, An- the headmaster of Aldryngton Prima- 2000 Olympic Games; it is now 40 years drew, a young man whose very promising ry School. In the post the trophy was since Matthew Syed secured his first national title. career was unfortunately cut short in his smashed to pieces, a new one had to later teenage years owing to injury. be purchased. On Saturday 15th March 1980 at the Lea Green Sports Centre in Matlock, Derby- A first for Matthew Syed; also it was the The first national trophy for Matthew shire, at the time nine years old, he was a first time in the age group when separate Syed but it was one on which he never member of the Aldryngton Primary School boys and girls competitions had been laid hands! 5 Swaythling Club News The Hydes connection, again Hull’s hoodoo of the early 1970s; following retirement, he assumed the man- agerial role at Barns-