Star table tennis player off to world champs

Duinefontein Table Tennis Club’s Rochica Sonday, 16, has been included in the South African women's team due to take part at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world championships, in Qatar, later this month.

The current SA women’s champion and a member of Duinefontein since 2020, club coach and chairman, Wafeeq Domingo considers her an astute student of the game with the ability to learn and adapt very quickly.

“She has cat-like reflexes and a calm demeanor,” said Domingo, “and she can improve her mental toughness when coming under pressure in big matches.”

“She is a control player with the ability to attack off both wings and possesses deadly serves,” he said. 

Locally, said Domingo, she competes in the premier division of Cape Town Table Tennis’ junior league as well as in the senior league’s first division.

No stranger to international competition and the pressure that comes with it, Rochica, a Grade 11 player at Lavender Hill High School, picked up a bronze medal at last year’s African youth championships in Botswana and has competed in tournaments across the continent. 

“I like pushing myself to improve, mastering new skills and techniques,” she said. “Table tennis is just so much fun, but what I love most is the thrill of competition, the rush of adrenaline.”

While happy with the progress the young player has made over the past few years, Domingo believes it’s important to ensure others come through the ranks.

As Cape Town Table Tennis Junior Convenor, Domingo and his colleagues oversee the running of  the city’s Junior League, which consists of 32 teams across four divisions.

He said junior league matches take place two Saturdays a month at various club venues, between April and September.

“My vision is to empower junior table tennis players to reach their full potential, fostering a supportive community that promotes skill development, sportsmanship and a life long passion for the sport,” he said.

Domingo said that beyond playing matches, young players are also encouraged to take in umpire workshops and other training sessions to enhance their understanding of the game's laws and rules.

Coaching workshops will be hosted by the Cape Town Table Tennis coaching officer, Graham Van As, at each event and will be open to all players from across the divisions regardless of age or level of play,” he said.

A fundraising event in aid of the CTT provincial team due to take part in the national championships, in Durban, in October, will be held at Fairview Primary School on Saturday May 10, starting at 4pm. R50 gets you in the door for an afternoon of fun and games. Call Domingo on 073 909 1978 for details.