Priya Chinnaswamy is an elite table tennis player, and wants to teach others that the sport is more than first impressions.
“Table Tennis is not just a garage or a bar sport. People don’t realize an hour of table tennis can burn over 200 calories,” Priya Chinnaswamy, an elite table tennis player, explained when asked about the most common things spectators don’t appreciate about the sport.
Now 55, she has played table tennis since she was a girl and coaches students of all ages. This is her second National Senior Games, and she has worked hard to not only make it here, but also to overcome her performance anxiety.
Priya has loved making friends at the Senior Games, but is also a fierce competitor. “When we are at the table, we are not nice… but outside of that, the friendships are fantastic,” Priya laughed. Priya also noted that playing doubles requires a lot of trust and relationship building, which many players have to develop in a short time. In doubles matches, each player must alternate hitting the ball, so verbal and non-verbal communication is key.
Like any other elite athlete, Priya’s training is intense. She coaches three times a week and plays three times a week. Practice consists of scrimmage matches, as well as practicing specific skills, like repetitive serving. She also spends certain practice days focusing on technique, such as playing only backhand, which requires her to have active footwork so she can move around the table. Focus is crucial in her practice and play, and she works diligently to block out all external stimuli while playing.
Where does her motivation come from? Her students! One of Priya’s students is 95 years old, and it inspires her to continue learning and growing in the sport. When she first started coaching older adults, she was shocked to see that people of all ages can play table tennis at a high level.
Priya also discussed the value of table tennis for athletes with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Among the many athletes she has coached, individuals with a mentally degenerative condition remained more stable for longer periods.
Priya dominated her competition at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana, earning three medals – two gold and one silver in Des Moines. Thanks, Priya, for giving us an inside look at this fascinating sport!
By: Sydney Parker
