By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
After dominating the sport of badminton, Lee Calvert has found a new fountain of youth. It’s called table tennis and, after taking up the sport a few years ago she has become one of the best players in the world for her age.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
The 92-year-old Tahitian Terrace resident recently returned from St. George, Utah, where she won two silver medals and a gold in mixed doubles at the 30th annual Huntsman World Senior Games, the largest Olympic style multi-sport event for seniors age 50 and older. More than 10,500 athletes participated in 30 sports in the two-week competition Oct. 2-15.
“It’s totally for seniors, the competition is usually really good and it’s well run in all areas,” Calvert said. “Because of my age, there are not a lot of players I’m able to play, but I did play [91-year-old] Llisa Modlich, the lady who won the World Games in Japan about five years ago, something I’ve wanted to do for several years. My incentive for working on this game of table tennis now is to meet up with her next year if we’re both able to do that. She has been playing for years and has her own coach, but I have a year to improve. Unlike badminton I’m still a novice at the tournament level.”
Calvert, an active member of the Pacific Palisades Optimist Club, partnered with Joe Jenkins of Ohio to win the mixed doubles gold medal and paired with Fumi Asami from Japan to earn silver in doubles in the 81-85 division. She also reached a finals in “ratings” with younger players (60+).
Tahitian Terrace neighbor Cynthia Cuza, who practices year round with Calvert, also participated and earned the bronze medal in singles in the 75+ division.
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