When pediatrician Dr. B.J. Janadri makes his rounds at Connellsville's Highlands Hospital, between patients he may attempt to sneak a peek at television coverage of the table tennis competition at the Beijing Olympics.
But children and their families won't have to worry that Janadri might not be giving them his complete attention as he attends to their ills, nor should they be concerned that he might be distracted while watching the world-class competition.
While Janadri might be tempted to catch a glimpse of the matches, the realist in him knows "there may not even be that much coverage" He laughed at the understanding, and recalled that television coverage of table tennis lasted "only about a minute in 2004."
Janadri's interest in table tennis -- he doesn't mind, but don't make it a practice of referring to the game as ping pong -- is more than casual.
"B.J. is about fifth in line" at the South Park Table Tennis Club, according to club president Gary Egri. "There is tough competition at our club and because of his occupation he doesn't always have as much time to devote to the game as other players, but he loves the game. You can see that by how he is focused and by how much fun he has."
With 11 table tennis tables at South Park, where competition is held in the Home Economics Building, Janadri plays on either table two or three, with the highest level of play occurring on table one.
"B.J. is a tenacious player, a heck of a competitor, and he puts up a great fight. He raises his level when he plays," said club vice president Randy Seemiller, who happens to have won the Pennsylvania State Table Tennis Singles title the past four years and is ranked No. 58 in the country. Seemiller maintains a national ranking of 2,420 (the highest ranking is 2,800), while Janadri's ranking is in the mid-1,900s. Seemiller's older brother, Dan, is ranked No. 21 in the nation and is the coach of the United States Olympics Table Tennis team.
Janadri only chuckles when talking about having played against the Seemillers.
"Dan and Randy are the best I've played," Janadri says. "I played Dan once and gave him a good run. Of course, I lost, but not that badly. I was able to stay in the game. And I'll occasionally have a good game against Randy." Dan Seemiller owns a table tennis club in South Bend, Ind.
Janadri, 47, who is from Aleppo, Syria, attended high school and medical school in his native land and came to the United States in 1988. His medical degree is from New Jersey's University of Medicine and Dentistry and he has been a pediatrician at Highlands Hospital in Connellsville since 1993.
His background in table tennis goes back to school and church in Syria, and he only discovered the South Park Table tennis Club, the only such organization in southwestern Pennsylvania (the next closest club is in Erie) via the Internet in 1995.
Janadri has a table at home, in his garage, but admits that competition may be infrequent and not the caliber he finds at South Park, where he plays once or twice each week, depending on his schedule. Tuesday night is league night, with a mini-tournament held every week, and open competition is available Thursday nights.
But the table tennis at South Park "is not your typical table tennis," he said. "It is very competitive. In the family basement you play for fun and just try to keep the ball on the table. But at South Park you go for the points and you go for the kill. Players hit the ball harder, sometimes as much as 100 miles per hour, and more footwork is involved. Players have to be good and be in good shape, as well. One has to move and go to the ball, not wait for it.
"At South Park players put spin on the ball on most shots. It may be a top spin, side spin, or spin on serves, and in all directions. You have to play to learn the spins and you only improve by playing other good players. Competition at the club is good every week, but the club is basically low key and always welcomes new members."
Summer participation, says Egri, dips to some 60 players, but may grow to as many as 120 during winter months.
But what separates Janadri from other players, Seemiller noted, is that "he plays in the traditional style of using a hard rubber bat (paddle), not the customary sponge rubber surface, and the hard rubber bat provides less spin."
"Five years ago I started playing with the hard bat," Janadri said, "and it's actually more of a workout with that style bat because the rubber is slow(er) and you have to compensate with more arm and body movement. Playing with a hard bat is more physically demanding."
Egri added that "B.J. is not only one of the few at our club who plays with a hard bat, but he is one of the few who uses the hard bat and is good at it. Most players use a sponge bat, which has a smooth or inverted sponge on the hitting surface. Using the hard bat is like going back to the old style of play."
Janadri has won a few local tournaments, in Frostburg, Md., and Erie, and also placed second in a team tournament in Erie. In tournaments, players are matched according to skill level or rating, such as under 2,000, under 1,900, under 1,800, etc.
Janadri's best shot is a "smash shot, hard and flat," he said. "I like to get in position to dominate and finish a point quickly."
With the Olympics coming up, Janadri hopes there will be additional TV and media coverage and that the Games generate more interest throughout the United States.
"Anyone who plays knows the value of table tennis and appreciates the game," he said. "And it's a game players at any level can enjoy, in the basement or at a local club."
Larger text
Smaller text
Print this article
E-mail this article
