O’Neill on a mission to launch table tennis league
INTEREST in table tennis generated by Hugh O’Neill, who plans to launch a TRNC league for the game, is steadily increasing, he told Cyprus Today.
Originally from Lurgan in county Armagh Mr O’Neill, 61, spoke of his mission to get table tennis enthusiasts of all ages and levels to join “sociable games” he is organising from 7pm every Wednesday in Leo’s Bar, Ozanköy.
“After a report in Cyprus Today [last weekend], we received many inquiries via email and social media,” he said.
“We are hoping to launch a table tennis league by next winter and already have more than 14 members in the one month since we started. It’s about having fun, socialising and enjoying the sport.”
Mr O’Neill, who moved to Ozanköy last April, is hoping to see teams meet in competition countrywide, to emulate the success of a table tennis league he formed in Bodrum, Turkey, which grew from a mere six members to some 500.
A former player in Ireland’s Division Two badminton league, he said: “There is little interest in badminton here in North Cyprus, but there is interest in table tennis, which is why we chose to start the ball rolling by holding games between members and teams and then expand into a league.”
Mr O’Neill is also a musician and travels around Europe playing guitar, harmonica and drums. “Life is never boring. It’s what you make of it!” he said.
“We appeal to all to take part in a fun sport that is fun and sociable.”
For more information, email Mr O’Neill at inchequin@hotmail.com.