Table tennis brings Sunset Park’s Chinese immigrants together

Inside the Sunset Park clubhouse of the Zhao Qing Yun Fu Association of America (美国肇庆、云浮侨胞联合总会) at 738 58th St., ping pong tables have become places where Chinese immigrants exercise, socialize and build friendships. Players come from different backgrounds. Some come every day; some play for three or four hours at a time. For them, table tennis is more than a sport; it has become an important part of retirement and a way to stay connected to the community.

Association president Lu Cunjun said the club has operated for about a decade. At first, the clubhouse simply kept a few tables for recreation. As more members became involved, table tennis gradually became a daily activity. The club now has about 40 active regulars, most of them between 40 and retirement age.

The club is open nearly every day. Players begin arriving around 9 a.m., and there is no fixed closing time. “Some people come after work at night and keep playing until one or two, even two or three, in the morning,” Lu said. “For some retirees, this is a regular part of daily life.”

“Everyone is genuine with each other, like family,” Lu said. The association also organizes trips, family visits and holiday activities that give members more chances to spend time together. In his view, table tennis has grown from a simple recreational activity into a way of connecting community members.

Mr. Guo, who joined the club after the pandemic, said he had played table tennis in China before coming to the United States. A community friend introduced him to the club. “People are very happy playing here,” he said. “We can exercise and make friends.”

Other players joke that Mr. Lin comes to the club 364 days out of the year. He said the point is not to chase competitive results but to “exercise and be happy.” After retiring, he made physical activity and time with friends part of his daily routine. He said many Chinese immigrants can easily become confined to small social circles if they do not actively seek recreation after arriving in the United States. Community activities like this one offer a chance to meet people, remain social and stay active.

Lin also emphasized the importance of daily exercise. As people get older, he said, their health can decline quickly. “You have to maintain your physical condition through regular exercise,” he said. “If you stop moving, your strength will drop quickly. But if you do a little every day, you can maintain your condition.” He added that people should know their limits and choose activities their bodies can handle. He participated in many sports when he was younger and, though he is now over 70, can still manage the moderate intensity of table tennis.

Another active member, Mr. Li, said he rarely exercised in the past. Since he began playing at the club, he has noticed clear changes in his physical and mental condition. “It works your body, your brain, your hands and feet, and your reactions,” he said. He used to need medical checkups several times a year, he said, but now, apart from routine exams, rarely needs to see a doctor for illness. Li often plays for three or four hours and comes whenever he has time. At midday, he and a group of players go to Eighth Avenue for lunch. Spending so much time together has built trust and an easy understanding among the members. “Everyone here is very nice,” he said.

During a doubles match that day, the atmosphere was relaxed and lively. Even when one team fell behind, teammates and opponents called out, “Don’t give up!” A good shot drew cheers of “Nice ball!” from players watching nearby. When someone showed clear improvement, the others quickly offered praise and encouragement. There were winners and losers, but the cheers and laughter continued. More than the score, it was the friendship among players—their support and encouragement for one another—that created the warmth in the room.