Joshua Band is not your average professional paddler. For starters, his primary profession isn't that of a table tennis player. He's a bar owner in his hometown — Jersey, a tiny island at the tail of England. He was part of the Jersey contingent at the Glasgow commonwealth games. And to top it all, he's just 22.
In Surat to participate in the ongoing Commonwealth TT tournament, Band tells dna that it's difficult to survive by just playing table tennis. And so he decided to open a ping pong bar at home earlier this year.
"I don't have a proper job. And table tennis is not as popular or big as rugby or football to be played professionally. So I needed to make arrangements for my bread and butter. And of course, the income from my bar supports my dreams of playing table tennis," said Band, after his team went down to Wales in a league encounter.
Band has been playing table tennis for past twelve years. He has won the national league twice. But he feels that people don't consider table tennis a sport.
"The main objective to have such kind of bar is to make the sport popular. Most people have played the game as a young kid, so it (the bar) is an attempt to make them play again," Band said.
The bar is full of novelty. It has HD screen to watch rugby matches, football leagues. "People can have a quick bite and then proceed to participate in a mini table tennis competition. And then have a drink to cool off."
When asked how does he manage to balance his game and business, Band said it is getting difficult with each passing day.
"I am not able to give much of time to the sport as the business has just started. Moreover, I have started a program where I wish to make Jersey known globally. Not many people are aware of Jersey. Many call it New Jersey. We wish end that notion," he said.
Interestingly table tennis was not his first-choice sport, lawn tennis was.
"It all happened during a holiday. I realised this (tennis) was an ideal game for me. I wasn't enjoying it. And so twelve years ago, I stopped playing tennis," said Band.
He isn't sure how many more years he will continue to play competitive table tennis though. He wants to take up more of a coaching role. He wants to guide young paddlers like his current teammate, 16-year-old Jordan Wykes.
"There are a lot of players like Jordan who are doing well. I want to train them and shape them to be champions. Naturally, it is difficult for me to continue playing the sport for a long time," he said, adding that the 2018 commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia could be his last.
