The story of the 'table tennis family' in Nghe An
With dozens of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at national family Badminton - Table Tennis tournaments, the family of Mr. Ngo Sy Hai - Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Mai is not only the pride of Nghe An grassroots sports but also a living proof of the power of family unity.
The journey from "Hai Phien" to a teacher who inspires
Entering the small house on Cao Lo Street (Vinh City), visitors cannot help but admire the collection of sparkling medals and certificates - the result of years of hard training. "My greatest success is not in the medals, but when the whole family burns out with table tennis", Mr. Hai shared.
Born in Dien Ky commune (Dien Chau district) in 1972, Hai was attached to the racket since his childhood. His passion for table tennis grew over the years, and by the end of secondary school, he had become famous with the nickname "Hai Phien" - one of the outstanding young players of Nghe Tinh in the 1980s. Although he did not pursue a professional career, his love for this sport still burned within him. In 1991, when he enlisted in the Information and Communications unit stationed in Ba Vi (formerly Ha Tay), in the middle of the remote mountains and forests, the sound of his racket hitting the ball still resounded regularly every afternoon. It was this perseverance that helped him win the Silver Medal at the 1992 All-Army Sports Festival.
After being discharged from the army, Mr. Hai decided to “live his passion” by studying at the University of Physical Education and Sports and becoming a physical education teacher at Huynh Thuc Khang High School. Here, he continued to shine with the Gold Medal in men’s singles and men’s doubles at the “People’s Teacher” Sports Festival in 2006. In 2010, when he transferred to Petrolimex Nghe Tinh Transport and Service Joint Stock Company, he maintained his form, continuously making his mark in internal tournaments.
Sports bond families
While teaching at Huynh Thuc Khang High School, Hai met Tran Thi Thuy Mai (born in 1974) - a colleague at the same school, and the two became husband and wife. They have two sons: Ngo Sy Son (born in 2006, student at Hanoi National University of Education) and Ngo Sy Duc (born in 2008, student majoring in Chemistry, Vinh University High School for the Gifted). Both inherited their father's athletic genes and showed early talent for table tennis.
Thanks to their flexible doubles style and serious training, Son and Duc continuously "picked" medals at student competitions such as the Phu Dong Sports Festival or the Nghe An Provincial Table Tennis Tournament. In 2019, Ngo Sy Duc made an impression when he entered the Top 8 of the National Youth Table Tennis Tournament in Lao Cai. Since 2016, the two brothers have officially joined their father in theNational Family Badminton - Table Tennis Tournament. The couple Ngo Sy Hai - Ngo Sy Son won the Bronze Medal (2016), Silver Medal (2019, 2020), while the couple Ngo Sy Hai - Ngo Sy Duc dominated the Father - Son event with 3 consecutive Gold Medals in the years (2022-2024).
If Hai is the technical pillar, Mai is the “glue” that holds the whole family together. From an enthusiastic spectator, she was gradually drawn into the world of table tennis through dramatic matches and hearty laughter. “I started practicing at the age of 40, my hands and feet were clumsy, but my family patiently guided me through every move. Now, every time I spin to hit a backspin, I feel like I’m “reborn,” Mai confided, her eyes shining with happiness.
In 2022, participating in the National Family Badminton - Table Tennis Tournament for the first time, Ms. Mai and her husband won the Bronze Medal in the Husband - Wife event and together with her son Ngo Sy Son won the Bronze Medal in the Mother - Child event. In the 2024 tournament, she and Mr. Hai raised their achievements to a new level with the Silver Medal in the Husband - Wife event, along with 2 other Bronze Medals.
2024 also marked the success of Mr. Hai - Ms. Mai's family with 3 Bronze Medals at the National Club Championship in Phu Yen, while the eldest son Ngo Sy Son excellently won the Gold Medal for high school men's doubles atPhu Dong Sports Festival of Nghe An province.
For Mr. Ngo Sy Hai's family, table tennis is not only a sport but also a "spice" that connects love. Every afternoon, the whole family gathers around the table, playing the ball and discussing tactics. Mr. Hai plays the role of coach, meticulously instructing his wife and children from technique to choosing the right racket. On weekends, they play friendly matches with clubs in and outside the province. "Although we pay for our own travel and accommodation, the greatest joy is being able to live our passion together," Ms. Mai confided.
Not only stopping at competition, the family also actively spreads the love of table tennis by providing free instruction to children at Van Cao Club (Provincial Labor Culture House) and opening classes at home. For them, each spin is not only a technique but also contains words of encouragement, each match is a new chapter in a family story filled with laughter.
The journey of this “table tennis family” is not only measured by medals, but also a lesson in perseverance, the spirit of socializing sports and above all - a family that knows how to nurture happiness from hearts in harmony./.
