As many families across the country celebrated Thanksgiving with traditional turkey dinners, a group of local Asian Americans marked the occasion by competing in a ping pong tournament. Inside the Malden High School gym, students and adults competed during the holiday in the event led by Mei Hung, executive director of the Chinese Culture Connection.
“Like other sports and arts, ping pong helps people who have language barriers communicate,” Hung said, adding that holding different divisions allowed participants of all skill levels to “enjoy the charm of this tournament.”
The ping pong tournament, conceptualized and led by Hung, aims to do more than just foster sportsmanship. It is a part of a larger vision to enhance community engagement, emphasize competition and, more importantly, social connections among Asian Americans. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the tournament, which has helped countless individuals from diverse cultures and nations build friendships. Hung’s goal is to make the event inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their ping pong skills.
“I encourage more people to participate in the sport and the tournament. Don’t worry about skill level—just come together and enjoy the game. It’s not just about displaying your skills, but about engaging in a fun and healthy community activity,” she told Sampan.
Senior participants, Wen Lin, Heping Wang and Changrong Zhao, told of their sense of rejuvenation and community bonding they experienced by participating. Residents of the 2Life Communities Brighton Campus, they commended 2Life for promoting an active lifestyle among its elderly residents and for providing the ping pong equipment. Wen Lin told Sampan that the 2Life team immediately provided high-standard equipment to support their initiative. The event bridged generation gaps and fostered new friendships.
“It was a great opportunity to meet many skilled players. Watching their fantastic skills motivated me to keep practicing, and I really enjoyed making friends, especially with the younger participants. I loved their passion,” Changrong Zhao said.
HePing Wang shared one story that really showed the positive outpourings from that day. “In some games, when there were not enough judges, participants volunteered to oversee the matches. When there were disagreements about the rules, which could lead to loss of points, players would humbly concede points to their opponents. This was a prime example of the strong friendships formed in this tournament.”
Sampan spoke with Allison Hausman and Tim Lei, representatives of 2Life’s management, who said they were impressed by the rigorous training regimen of the 2Life team. “They woke up at 5 a.m. for two-to-three hour practice, then continued from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.” said Lei. “2Life’s mission is to offer residents a full life, and the ping pong tournament aligns perfectly with this goal.” said Allison.
Participants and organizers alike said that they are eagerly anticipating next year’s tournament. With a spirit of dedication and competition, participants are already training, aiming to showcase their best performances to friends and fellow competitors. Meanwhile, the event’s sponsor, the Chinese Culture Connection, says it is committed to continue to enhance the experience for everyone involved. Hung, reflecting on the tournament’s rich history, encourages broader participation: “I invite everyone to join in this sport. Don’t hesitate to bring your friends to play ping pong, regardless of cultural background or language barriers. I’m excited to see your fantastic performance at next year’s tournament.”
