KXXV-TV News Channel 25 - Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen | Waco Table Tennis Club

Waco Table Tennis Club

Waco, TX-  The World's number one sport has captured nearly everyone's attention during the Women's World Cup, but what about the sport that's said to rank second in popularity? Table tennis deserves some respect.

"We've been playing together for over 30 years," said Jimmy Dorrell, member of the Waco Table Tennis Club.

Dorrell continued,"We know that in a place like America it's football, and baseball, and basketball and those are great sports, but we have found that all over the world this is a very popular sport."

Through the years the sport of table tennis has matured, so don't call it ping pong, and more importantly to hit the ball back, you don't use a "paddle".

"Bats they're called, are weighted, there are certain woods that are better than other woods," said Dorrell. "There are people that have table tennis shoes, they have equipment bags with their stuff on it."

The Waco Table Tennis Club is more of a relaxed atmosphere, but they still take the game very seriously.

"I play five days a week, I come everyday," said Ira Walton

88 year old Ira Walton has won a gold medal in the National Veteran Golden Age Games 18 times in the last 20 years. He's also got seven Texas Senior Games under his belt.

"It's a lifetime sport that people enjoy," said Dorrell.

Walton is living proof of that and has a message for critics of the game.

"Get on the table, come on and you'll see," said Walton.

Dorrell stated,"We just enjoy playing against each other, the main thing is, it's just fun."

The Waco Tennis Club is open to the public.