We play tournaments without an audience. Usually, there are a few parents and some players from the club in a different age category. Handball and football usually have full stadiums of supporters. We play the sport for passion, not for fame — and not really for money either.
The solitary beauty of table tennis — where passion drives every moment
The Inner Drive
We are often pressured to be better by our inner selves. If we miss a backhand opener, we dwell on it for days and think we are bad. But we can never really give up the sport, no matter how close we get, because we love it.
We train for at least two hours every day. Usually, after training, we are really tired, like in any sport. Some clubs I know train for four. Our entire day is basically training and then sleeping. We miss studying for quizzes, and we must play almost every day because practice makes perfect.
The Reality of Dedication
Table tennis is one of those sports in which, if you do not play continuously, you will not improve. You will be stuck. If you stop playing for a while, your level might decrease.
Sacrifice and Choice
I have had to choose countless times between family time and training. When I visit Egypt and go to my sister's house, I usually leave everyone and take a forty-five-minute taxi just to train. I am motivated by my passion. I'm often pressured by family to stay and enjoy time with them, but greatness requires sacrifice.
The Weight of Expectations
Of course, there are times when we feel like time is running out and we're not improving enough for the next tournament — the pressure of expectations, of not wanting to fail our coaches.
"Sometimes, I wouldn't speak to my coach about something I needed to train in because I respect him so much — and I had failed him before. I just couldn't. I ended up texting him and going to sleep instantly."
We also spend money on shoes and rubbers without being sure we'll ever get that money back, because we need to win — as most clubs follow the "win-to-get-paid" strategy due to budget cuts. Several times, I've felt like it wasn't worth it.
I've traveled late several times. I arrived home at 3:00 a.m. from my first-ever competition, completely exhausted. Sacrifices — but at least there was no school the next day. Of course, family pressure "to win" always exists. Table tennis players and coaches usually adopt the mindset: Just play well, be yourself, and winning will come. Do your part. Non–table tennis communities don't really understand this.
Finding Your Community
My friends and teachers also don't understand my choice to play table tennis. I'm sure they would rather I play football or basketball so I could join them in PE or in the teachers-vs.-students matches every week. They've never really experienced the exhilaration of this sport the way I do.
This never pressured me to switch — maybe it did before I was eleven, but once I started professional training, I never thought about it again.
Cultural Challenges
In Arab culture, pursuing sports as a career isn't really common — unless it's football, and you play for Al-Hilal or Al-Zamalek. It's always "be a doctor, be an engineer."
I truly feel like I belong in the table tennis community — and so do most players. Other players share your passion for the sport. The personality that shows most on the table is the one driven by passion. You are locked in.
The Escape and the Love
Training has always been an escape from real life — a place to focus only on my game and nothing else. It's amazing. I realized I truly love this sport when I started playing fast — fast backhand spins, fast openers, and fast serves. The adrenaline rushes through my body.
Of course, every player falls in love with the sport for a different reason.
Defining Success
I define success in table tennis as personal growth. If I am playing better, then I have succeeded. Medals, of course, are another indicator — but you can win a medal even when you're not playing your best.
Perseverance Through Challenges
Players burn out and become frustrated with their level, but they must remember that this is just a stage. I know it's not easy, but we have to try.
Many players have big dreams. I am one of them. I did my best, but I lost a year of training when I had to switch clubs due to a lack of funding. I'm not allowed to play in half of the tournaments this year. Still, I try every day and give it my best.
Once players find their way to a club, they won't feel isolated — they'll find a community that shares the same passion.
The Future
The future feels a little foggy right now in most Middle Eastern countries, especially for youth. There are no big changes happening. If anything, it's becoming harder.
More Than a Sport
Table tennis, to me, represents more than a sport — it is discipline, identity, and self-worth all in one. Every rally teaches patience, every missed shot tests resilience, and every small improvement reminds us that progress takes time.
Through years of training, sacrifice, and quiet victories, we learn who we are beyond medals and rankings.
Support may fade, opportunities may shrink, but passion is stubborn.
It survives long after motivation wavers and long after others stop watching. In the end, table tennis will always be there — not as a career or an obligation, but as a part of who we are.