Otago Table Tennis Coach Martin Duffy Honoured with Life Membership

Martin Duffy, a prominent figure in New Zealand table tennis, has been awarded life membership by Table Tennis New Zealand (TTNZ) in recognition of his extensive contributions to the sport. This honour came during TTNZ’s recent annual meeting, marking a significant achievement in Duffy’s more than 60-year involvement with table tennis.

Duffy, who began his journey with the sport at the age of 12 while on a long boat trip to Scotland, has dedicated his life to nurturing table tennis in Otago. He expressed his surprise at receiving this accolade, stating, “I don’t think anyone from Otago, that I know of, has been made a life member. I suppose it is quite a big deal.”

A Legacy of Commitment and Passion

Described by Debs King-Newell, treasurer of the Otago Table Tennis Association, as the “heartbeat of table tennis in Otago,” Duffy has played a pivotal role in the sport’s growth in the region. His responsibilities include running squad training sessions, providing free coaching every Sunday, and managing Dunedin’s largest table tennis club. King-Newell noted, “Martin’s commitment and passion have touched hundreds of players across New Zealand.”

Duffy’s coaching career includes significant international assignments. He served as a coach for New Zealand from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, with notable appearances at the 1994 Commonwealth Championships in Hyderabad and the 1993 World Championships in Sweden. His influence extended beyond coaching to include national senior and junior coaching camps, school visits, and promotional activities.

In addition to his coaching duties, Duffy was a national selector for TTNZ from 1985 to 1996 and again from 2015 to 2018. He also served on the TTNZ board from 2013 to 2018, including a term as deputy chairman. His dedication to the sport is evident through his long tenure, which began when he was appointed Otago coach in 1980 and continued until 1995, before returning to the role in 2013.

Reviving the Sport in Otago

Under Duffy’s guidance, the number of interclub teams in Otago has seen a remarkable resurgence. He noted, “We got as low as 14 interclub teams at one stage, but we’re up to about 28 teams now. So we’ve most probably got more competitive players than tennis, for example, which people probably don’t realize.”

At 75 years old, Duffy no longer plays competitively but dedicates approximately 15 hours each week to coaching the next generation of players. His journey began when he first discovered table tennis during his family’s voyage to Scotland. “I started playing table tennis on the ship, and then we came back again. Eleven months later, I played table tennis for another six weeks on the ship,” he recalled. Upon returning to New Zealand in 1962, he joined the table tennis club at Macandrew Intermediate School.

Though he took a break from the sport after Otago Table Tennis sold its facility in the mid-1990s, Duffy’s passion for table tennis has remained unwavering. His life membership with TTNZ stands as a testament to his enduring legacy and impact on the sport in Otago and beyond.