SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY
  • DESTINATIONS

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating active adults to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • How to Get Involved
    • NSGA Showcase Video
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • 30th Anniversary
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How To Qualify
    • National Games Information
    • NSG Cup presented by Kohler Walk-In Bath
    • 2023 NSG Pittsburgh
    • Athlete Check-In
    • Registration
    • Hotels & Lodging
    • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
    • Competition Schedules
    • Results & Records
    • Special Events
    • Team Partner Finder
    • Tourist Information
    • Transportation & Parking
    • Venue Information
    • Volunteer for the Games
    • Limited Events Verification Form
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • SPORTS
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Pickleball
      • Powerwalk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • NON-AMBULATORY SPORTS
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • TEAM SPORTS
      • Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH & WELL-BEING
    • Get In Shape With Ageility
    • Zibrio Health and Well-Being
    • Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
    • Heartline Study
    • Falls Prevention Resources
    • NSGA Steps Challenge
    • Exercise & Well-Being Resources
    • Humana Healthy Living and Prevention Resources
    • Fitness Videos
    • ACE Training Tips
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • MEDIA
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Games Videos
      • 2022 NSG Video Recap
      • 2019 NSG Video Recaps
    • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Newsletter
    • Press Room
    • Athlete of the Month
    • Personal Best Features
REGISTER
NOW!
 January 28, 2023

Out of Africa. . .with a Paddle – February 2021 Athlete of the Month

Out of Africa. . .with a Paddle – February 2021 Athlete of the Month

by Del Moon / Tuesday, 02 February 2021 / Published in Athlete of the Month

Esther Lamptey, 58, Midwest City, Oklahoma

There are many paths people take to find National Senior Games, but few can say they came from another continent.

Esther Lamptey started playing table tennis, a very popular sport in Africa, while growing up in the country of Ghana. She was fortunate to train for a decade with D. G. Hathramani, an elite player from India who is credited with Ghana’s surge in the sport in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Esther’s hard work paid off when, at 18, she won the women’s singles title in 1980 at the African Championships in Dakar.

Table tennis became a central part of her life. “My job was as Chief Inspector for the Ghana Police Service, so I played on the police team and coached them as well.” Esther continued to compete and has also been an international umpire for the sport, most recently for the 2019 Junior and Cadet Open in Ghana.

In 2016, Esther retired from her job and moved to Midwest City, Oklahoma to be close to her daughter Dorcas. “Her father brought her here at age nine,” she explains. “When she came of age, she became a citizen and filed to bring me over.  She’s now 32 and doing her medical residency in Arkansas.”

Esther found the Oklahoma City Table Tennis Club and helps coach and officiate in addition to playing. That led to the Oklahoma Senior Games in 2016. She was thrilled to win the state games in singles and doubles with her partner Linda Piatt and to have a celebrated debut at the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana with a Silver medal earned in the highly competitive W55-59 singles play.

“I enjoy all types, but playing singles is my favorite,” she says. “I’m the boss. I know how my opponent will return and what to do next. It’s more difficult with doubles.”

Esther is grateful she can continue playing in Senior Games as she ages. “I compete to travel and make friends and not for winning as much anymore,” she observes. “Friendship is No. 1 now. Winning comes second to friendship and traveling to new places.”

After coming to Oklahoma, Esther earned certifications to work as a nursing assistant and is well-liked by residents and staff in a nursing home environment. “People don’t believe my age when I tell them,” she laughs. “I’m so proud to use my example to help others, especially in the nursing home, both with residents and others. I try to motivate them, to use the little bit of knowledge I have in my sport to help them to get up. I’m a coach and I have to encourage my athletes, so I use my knowledge and skills from that on others too.”

“It has made me so popular,” she continues with another laugh. “Everybody there knows Esther and wants me to work in their hall.” She’s trying to get a sport table for the facility, not only to provide recreation for those able to do it, but she also wants to bring in players to have exhibitions for the residents.

“Working in medicine, I see people younger than me who can’t move or do anything,” Lamptey said. “But if they were involved in table tennis, or another sport, it wouldn’t be that way. That’s why I’ll keep playing as long as I can.”

 

  • Tweet

About Del Moon

What you can read next

Gary Patton Refines and Finds Success December 2022 Athlete of the Month
Pickleball + Airstream = A Lovely Way to Play January 2023 Athlete of the Month
100 Reasons to Keep Swimming – November 2022 Athlete of the Month

Recent Posts

  • Making Space for Sports

    Larry DeLucas, 72 Birmingham, Alabama There are...
  • Pickleball + Airstream = A Lovely Way to Play January 2023 Athlete of the Month

    Gene Berg, 70 Margaret Berg, 61 Litchfield, New...
  • The Long Run November 2022

    ASSOCIATION NEWS NSGA Announces 2023 Games Them...
  • Gary Patton Refines and Finds Success December 2022 Athlete of the Month

    Gary Patton, 77 Rock Rapids, Iowa Gary Patton n...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Memorial Fund
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA E-Newsletter and General Interest E-Mail Sign Up

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2022 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
2023 National Senior Games - July 7-18, 2023 160 Days 8 Hours 45 Minutes 44 Seconds