Fund-raising: ... could this be the golden key?

Well, in the first place, TTK is not only concerned with producing good table tennis players. Its declared mission is, after all, 'to change lives through sport'. In other words, they are promoting the playing of table tennis as a means-to-another-end, as well as being a desirable objective in its own right.

Admittedly this presents a view of table tennis that is not exactly "traditional". But it begins to appear that this dual objective might be a sort of golden key for table tennis fund-raising. A key that could unlock a golden future for the sport.

In an article published in The Times Online, on 09 June 2005, Matthew Syed cites the example of a pupil on a TTK school table tennis program; a pupil (who is rapidly becoming a very accomplished player) 'who used to bunk off school and cause trouble [but] is now regarded as a model pupil'.

In this, perhaps, we see the secret of the inspiration that drives TTK. The suggestion that kids who become really involved in this kind of school table tennis program could, by becoming accustomed to purposeful disciplined behaviour, also become model pupils.

In another article in The Times Online, also on 09 June 2005, Matthew Syed describes an absolutely huge TTK fund-raising scheme. With a view to fund-raising, TTK invited 36 successful business-men to enter a table tennis competition scheduled for September 2005.

It was to be a very exclusive competition, the entry fee being 10,000. At the time of writing at least 20 had accepted the invitation and the list was still open.

This was great news for TTK since more than half of those entry fees will eventually be able to be ploughed into their various school projects. Even better, it could become an annual event.