The U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors is happy to announce the names of those outstanding players and contributors/officials to be honored with induction at this year’s annual banquet during the 2023 National Championships in Fort Worth, Texas on July 5th. Those being inducted are… Player: Ken Brooks Player/Contributor: Ashu Jain; Contributors: Dennis Davis and Willy Leparulo.
Kenneth Brooks, a quadriplegic Paralympic table tennis player who has contributed to the sport of para table tennis for over 40 years. Brooks has won national championships through the National Wheelchair Athletic Association and subsequently through the American Wheelchair Table Tennis Association 17 times, more than any other quadriplegic player ever. He was on USA Para Table Tennis teams since 1972 and played in 11 World Championships, winning a bronze medal in the 1980 Paralympic Games in Arnhem, Holland, and gold in the Pan American Games in Nova Scotia in both singles and teams in 1982.
Additionally, Brooks was instrumental in the organization and promotion of wheelchair sports throughout the state of NJ, serving as the President and subsequently the Treasurer of the Wheelchair Sports Council of NJ, a state-supported agency responsible for the funding and distribution of state Department of Community Affairs funds to wheelchair sports programs throughout the state. Brooks was also the first wheelchair using ITTF International Classifier after retiring from playing, continuing to be one of the most active national technical classifiers still.
Former 2x National Team member Ashu Jain’s love for table tennis was evident from a young age, despite limited resources as a migrant from India. Without any formal training and a late start to playing, Jain’s creativity and tenacity allowed him to become a top-ranked junior, collegiate champ, and a two-time national team member. During his second year on the national team, Jain sustained a severe ankle injury, ending his playing career. However, he pursued his passion for table tennis through governance, as he was elected onto the Board of USATT as the Athlete Representative in 2005. He quickly learned the nuances of committees and organizational structures and gained respect of his peers on the Board. To save USATT from decertification, he was appointed as the impartial chair of the Governance Reform Committee and tasked with completely revamping the USATT, including creating a new organizational system, electing a new Board of Directors and creating new bylaws. In addition to his own contributions, under his leadership and guidance, athletes were perhaps the most integral in the USATT committee structure ever, and these athletes went on to greater roles themselves.
Simultaneously, Jain was an active and outspoken member of the USOC Athletes’ Council, first serving as the primary representative from the USATT, and later elected as Vice Chairman of the USOC Athletes’ Commission, leading a group of athletes with over 140 Olympic medals from all sports. He chaired the anti-doping division which led the key changes to the World Anti Doping code.
After his role within the USATT Ashu went on to being vice-chairman of ITTF Athletes Committee and fought for athletes’ rights on the international scale. He often represented the athletes at ITTF Board and Executive Committee meetings and initiated and conducted system-wide meetings to create greater level of communication and unity. Ashu Jain’s leadership and commitment of over 12 years to the purity of sport, not just table tennis, has left a significant impact throughout the intertwined fabric of the USATT, USOC, and ITTF.
Dennis Davis, founder, and head coach of the Palo Alto Table Tennis Club Junior Program has achieved numerous successes in the world of table tennis. He coached several US National team members, including Olympians Kanak Jha, Ariel Hsing, Lily Zhang, and Michelle Do. In addition, he ran the Palo Alto Table Tennis Club and created the Junior Training Program from 1989 to 2012. Davis has also organized many trips to China during the summers for training. For his achievements in coaching, Davis was awarded the 2004 and 2007 USATT Developmental Coach of the Year awards. He also coached at the World Junior Championships in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Dennis is currently coaching at the ICC Club in Milpitas. Davis has also been involved in event management. He was responsible for initiating the bid and serving as tournament director for the 2007 ITTF World Junior Championships, the first World Championship event held in the United States. In addition to the ITTF World Junior Championships, Davis organized several other events, including the 2004 NCTTA National Championships, 2009 National Senior Games Table Tennis Event and the 25th and 40th Anniversary Ping Pong Diplomacy Event. Davis has also held several positions in ITTF and USATT. He served as the ITTF Junior Commission North American Representative from 2008 to 2013, the ITTF Junior Commission Chair from 2013 to 2016, the US National Coaching Chairman from 1995 to 1997, the Junior Advisory Committee member from 2011 to 2012, and the USATT Junior Advisory Chair in 2013. Davis has made significant contributions to the development of table tennis in the United States and internationally.
Willy Leparulo has been a driving force in the growth and success of table tennis in the United States. As the president of the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) since 2004, he has overseen a remarkable expansion of the league, with over 200 teams and almost 2000 players participating each year. Under his leadership, the NCTTA has become the only national table tennis league that runs year after year. Willy’s tireless work has also helped create an environment that grows the sport, with hundreds of college clubs, former junior players, and even professionals finding a place to play and maintain their skills.
One of Willy’s major accomplishments is the professionally run national championships, which he directs each year. The tournament boasts high-quality video streaming, a full-color printed program, and dedicated practice tables, among other features, and all teams must qualify through divisional and regional play. The NCTTA also awards thousands of dollars in college scholarships to US table tennis players each year. Willy’s work has helped make the NCTTA a model for other countries and has paved the way for the growth of table tennis in the US for years to come.