Piers Pressure
Piers van Mol reveals his diverse sporting interests, a dislike of pimples and why over-eagerness is holding him back
Hello Piers, can I first ask you how long have you been playing table tennis?
It is three years since I returned to table tennis.
How did you start playing?
Aged 8 on a holiday in Scotland with my mother, stopped playing aged 14 when I started rugby seriously.
How long have you been a Horsham TTC member?
Three years.
How did your team do last season?
Horsham ‘H’ came 6th out of 7 teams in the K1 division.
How did you personally perform last season?
Not to my full potential I never got into the matches properly. Season average 26.67%.
Do you have any pet peeves about the game?
People who play with pimples. Long medium or even short ones.
What bat/rubbers are you currently using?
My Bat is a Donic Burn. Rubbers: - 1. Donic Coppa X2. 2. Donic Acuda S2.
How would you describe your playing style?
Over eager!
What’s your temperament on the table?
I try to maintain a positive attitude but it is very difficult for a naturally negative person!
What motivates your participation in the game?
Erik Van-Mol, my son, is my main motivation and trying to slow the progress of my ever-expanding waistline.
What are you strengths and weaknesses as a player?
Strengths? I have a reasonable backhand block/counter hit and top spin. Weaknesses: I stand too close to the table, take the ball to early, rush my services and panic when playing people with pimples or a good chopper such as Bob Rhodes.
Do you have any other sporting interests?
Rugby, middle distance running (800m-3,000m) golf and go-karting. More the last two now than the first two.
Who’s your sporting hero?
Sebastian Coe.
What do you consider to be your best ever win?
Against Erik in the K1 division this season.
What’s your funniest moment in table tennis?
Thinking I could give Ian Ford a fright during top-table last Tuesday night at training.
Who’s been the biggest influence in your table tennis development?
My mother for teaching me how to play, my father for making me a table, Rory Scott for coaching me and finally but by no means least Erik my son, for keeping me keen to try and win against him.
Who’s your favourite table tennis player?
Dmitrij Ovtcharov (Germany).
Thanks Piers
