Chef dazzles with table tennis skills

Amid the din of clanking dishes and silverware, a unique sound can be heard at SOJI Noodle & Rice in Sisters - the ping and pong of table tennis.

Table tennis, better known as pingpong, is an immensely popular Asian sport that has long been a favorite in the West, and now it has its own venue right here in Sisters.

Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. are now set aside as open play time at the Asian restaurant. Owner Jay Bower has invited players of all skill levels to visit the restaurant on Tuesday evenings to enjoy the sport, as either a participant or spectator.

The idea all started when Bower invited Chi, SOJI's chef, to his home for Thanksgiving. Chi, who immigrated to Oregon from Guangdong Province, China, in 2003, was an avid pingpong player in China. Upon discovering Chi's impressive table tennis skills, Bower decided that they needed more space in which to play, and moved the table to SOJI.

He soon realized that there were many people in Sisters who also enjoyed table tennis, so he decided to reserve Tuesday evenings in the restaurant for regular play. In addition to bringing the community in to the restaurant, the activity has also been an opportunity for Chi to improve his English.

Chi says he loves many things about the sport, one in particular is its wide audience.

"One is not limited by age or gender, and one can play with great success well into their 70s or 80s," he said, as Sisters resident David Perkins translated. "Unlike other popular sports such as football or basketball, one doesn't need to be six feet tall or 300 pounds. Older people enjoy it because it uses motor skills and your head, and it is great exercise."

Chi, who does not speak English, feels that he has taken on the role of a teacher and coach. He hopes that somehow pingpong will involve kids who, because of their physical size, can't play other sports.

The inconspicuous sign in the restaurant's waiting area is the only advertising Bower has done for the table tennis games.

According to Bower, "It's all been word of mouth. We've had people from all over the world that just happen to be in town and they drop in. We've had people from South Africa and from Europe - all great players."

Emily Simon, a visitor from Portland, stopped by the restaurant on her way out of town for a bite to eat and found more than Asian cuisine.

"I used to be a very good pingpong player; I used to play all the time. It was great to be able to play again. It all came back to me and I had a great time," she said.

Bower hopes the weekly event will be a platform for more. He has tentative plans that SOJI, in conjunction with Three Creeks Brewing Co., will host a fall fundraiser tournament.