The University of Warwick Table Tennis Club is taking to the tables for a marathon 24-hour session in aid of charity – the latest evidence of a club going from strength to strength.

Tomorrow and Thursday, members will be playing table tennis for 24 hours in aid of Cancer Research UK on the university piazza. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

The club has made great strides in recent years, competing in local leagues, facilitating the development of players of all abilities and allowing table tennis to become an important social experience in the university life of many members.

Coach Tony West leads BUCS team training as of this year, and competition for its BUCS teams is steeply rising. Team members also have made use of fitness sessions that have been provided by Warwick Sport for several clubs which has underlined the importance of a multifaceted approach needed to compete at a high level.

The commitment of its players along with the additional coaching hours for the team which has come about following the development of Warwick’s New Sports Hub has engrained a culture of hard work and professionalism which has built the foundations of Warwick becoming one of the finest places in the country to study and play competitive table tennis at a high level. Warwick Sport also offers scholarship opportunities for top level athletes.

The way in which WTTC has reached out to the local community and provides an opportunity for beginners to pick up table tennis is also admirable. The club has two teams in the Leamington Table Tennis League, regularly competes in friendly matches against local clubs and often enters players into tournament such as the Lillington Graded Tournament.

Alongside this, the club also provides weekly Pop Up Table Tennis Sessions in the Maths and Stats Building as well as Rock Up and Play sessions which has allowed participation in table tennis on campus to be more prevalent and the basic principles and technique of table tennis to be taught to many.

This has not only encouraged students to be active and engage in sport, but has also encouraged many to take up the sport on a more regular basis with many subsequently becoming members and attending club sessions.

WTTC also provides a key social experience for many of its members with socials taking place on a regular basis. This has meant that the club is at the centre of university life for its members and getting to know others away from the table only makes one’s time on it more enjoyable.

Sammy Kaye, Social Secretary of WTTC and currently ranked no 53 Under-21 in the country says: “I have really enjoyed representing the university at a competitive level and the club has been a great way to get to know people at university. Although many university table tennis clubs are resource constrained, I feel that at Warwick even experienced players have the chance to improve further.”

The steps that the club have taken and its plans for future development have been aimed to consistently allow top players to improve their game whilst at university as well as encourage more people to play table tennis at a local league standard after university. For anyone with a passion for the sport, the club certainly has a lot to offer.