Flying Balls - Wheelchair Table Tennis at the REHACARE

If a world class player in wheelchair table tennis meets an experienced table tennis player without handicap and the two duel, sitting in a wheelchair, then it is a sports competition of a special kind: The first "socialpioneerCup" on 23 and 24 September 2011 in Düsseldorf.

01/09/2011

The current world ranking number
one Holger Nikelis is the organiser
of the tournament; © Geist

The organiser of this unique table tennis tournament is the Handicapped Association North Rhine-Westphalia (BSNW), which integrates the socialpioneerCup in its stage performances in the sports center hall 9 at the REHACARE in Düsseldorf. REHACARE is with more than 50,000 visitors and nearly 800 exhibitors the world's largest trade fair in rehabilitation.

Initiator and organiser of the tournament is the world champion and Paralympic wheelchair champion in table tennis, Holger Nikelis. "For many fans also it is difficult to estimate on what level wheelchair table tennis players act. At the socialpioneerCup, therefore we offer experienced table tennis players the unique opportunity to gain personal experience in a wheelchair and compete with top players of the wheelchair table tennis scene," says the 33-year-old.

"For the “pedestrians” it is also a challenge to make friends with the wheelchair as sports equipment in a short period of time and establish coordination with the table tennis game." It also promotes the idea of inclusion and creates almost a year before the Paralympics in London 2012 even more transparency, acceptance and enthusiasm for sports for the disabled, so Nikelis.
As title sponsor Holger Nikelis could win the young aid organisation socialpioneer based in Hamburg. "The support of projects to promote integration is a central concern of socialpioneer. That's why we are proud and happy to give our name to this unique tournament and support the commitment by Holger Nikelis as a social pioneer," says Martin Possekel, managing director of socialpioneer.

The qualification tournament was
very exciting; © Helmut Nikelis

Qualification tournament for “pedestrians”

For the socialpioneerCup Nikelis could win the currently four best German wheelchair table tennis players Thomas Schmidberger, Thomas Brüchle, Selcuk Cetin and Valentin Baus. In the past years they have collected medals at World, European and German Championships and occupy top positions in the world rankings. Schmidberger, Brüchle, Cetin and Baus compete against one of four table tennis players without disabilities, who qualified through a qualifying round for the socialpioneerCup. For this tournament they will also sit in a wheelchair. The quarter finals will be on 23 September, the semi-finals and the final on 24 September.

The qualifying tournament of the "pedestrians" was open for all leagues and has been held on 28 August at the German record champion Borussia Dusseldorf. The required wheelchairs were provided by the organiser. The participants received on-site an instruction in the use of wheelchairs and tactical tips by experienced wheelchair table tennis players. "The best four players could take a rental wheelchair for home training with them to prepare for the socialpioneerCup" says Nikelis.

Even in the past Holger Nikelis has tried to stand up in public for the sport. Here he can be seen in the sports center at the REHACARE with young athletes; © Geist

At the REHACARE, show table tennis is already a firm fixture on the sports center of the stage BSNW. With the organisation of a high-level tournament, the federation now also wants to take the wishes of many visitors into account, who want to see table tennis competitions live" at the sports center stage.

The tournament is played in a professional environment: The games take place in a specially built "Center Court" on stage and are led by experienced international referees. In addition, a moderator will comment on the games, provide background information on the sport and rules and have conversations with interesting interviewees.

REHACARE.de; Source: BSNW