FOR an octogenarian, Junko Tasaka is an amazing woman. The 83-year-old from Kobe is now in Penang taking part in the table tennis competition at the Asia Pacific Masters Games (APMG) 2018.
“I have been playing table tennis for the past 60 years and I will continue to do so as long as my legs can carry me,” Junko said with the help of interpreter Ang Cheng Bee, a freelance Kuala Lumpur tourist guide from Japan Travel Bureau.
“As long as I can see, as long as I can stand and walk, I will play table tennis. It’s my hobby apart from making Japanese tea.”
The sprightly Junko was at the Penang Table Tennis Training Centre in Macallum Street playing some warm-up matches yesterday as her singles event starts today.
She is now the oldest of all the 224 table tennis participants after the withdrawal of compatriot Minorru Kimura, 84, whose flight to Penang was cancelled due to typhoons.
With Junko in Penang is also her daughter, Naoko, who had won the women’s singles gold and women’s doubles gold on Monday. Naoko beat Indonesia’s Vilia Nyoto 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 in the singles final and paired up with Yukari Kashima to beat Yurita Sari-Villa Nyoto 11-8, 11-4, 11-8.
Both Junko and Naoko came with a fairly big contingent of 22 players from Hyogo Ken Table Tennis Association, headed by Kozo Nitta.
But Junko’s son, Mitsuru, 50, who is now staying in Canada, loves football and so is his grandson, Takuya, 18, who is now playing for a club in Portugal.
Asked what advice she could offer to the general public, she said: “Just pick one of the sports and practise all the while. It’s not so much for winning but as a hobby.”
Junko also spends her time in taking part in the Japanese tea ceremony, which she started to learn when she was six years old.
“It’s a difficult process and we’ve examinations. But this is one cultural activity I enjoy participating, making tea for family members and friends.”
Story and photos by K.H. Ong