Happy Mothers’ Day from Table Tennis Wales 

To celebrate Mothers’ Day, Table Tennis Wales is showcasing the wonderful work that mums do, the special bonds they share with their children, and the power that table tennis has to connect generations.  

To mark the occasion, we spoke to two mothers and their daughters about how table tennis brings them together. 

The sport has been in the Jacobs’ life for over four decades and in March 2025, mum Karen and daughter Rhiannon joined Gwent TTC after finally being inspired to do so by the countless tales of competitive action from Rhiannon’s father.  

Courtesy of the club’s welcoming environment, the pair have thoroughly enjoyed their time and progressed to play competitive themselves.  

“With encouragement from Andrew Ryder and the committee, we entered the Gwent Summer League as The Spinettes and formed our first team with another beginner, Mum’s friend Iryna,” explained Rhiannon.  

“Now we are competing in the Gwent Winter League in a team of five; we are enjoying our first season so much that we have started to take part in tournaments too like the recent Wales Senior Championships. It has been a steep learning curve, but we love it! 

“Playing table tennis together is never boring,” she continued. “Mum is my captain, which means when I dare to make other plans on match days and I am unavailable to play, I get a proper telling off; no excuses allowed! On the table, she can be hilarious; mid-game she will do the silliest nervous dance or facial expressions and completely lose her composure! I try to motion her to close her bat, only for her to mouth ‘I knowwwwww’. 

“And of course, she is still my Mum. If I am rushing and don’t want to take a break between a game, she will motion me over, make me drink water and talk tactics like we are in some World Championship final!” 

Karen, who has recovered from treatment of a rare type of cancer, treasures each moment she spends on the table with her daughter.  

“Table tennis is a fun way for us to keep connected,” she told us. “Many women may drop out of sports as they get older, so I am delighted that table tennis is a sport she has taken up with me so we can enjoy playing together for many more years to come.  

“I love the fact that we see each other regularly, and table tennis is a great sport for mums and daughters to do together. There are no age barriers, it is open to all abilities and genders, and is totally inclusive, so as a mum I am delighted Rhiannon can enjoy a sport in such an environment.” 

In true motherly fashion, Karen insists Rhiannon is the better player.  

“It has been amazing to see her progress so rapidly! I am bursting with pride! It is great to see her thrive!” 

Those matches and sessions at Gwent TTC have offered key moments in their relationship, with Rhiannon describing the sport as “one of the few regular chances I have to spend time with Mum each week. 

“Our mother-daughter relationship definitely gets tested sometimes but in the funniest way possible! Those shared moments of teamwork, strategy and laughter are what makes playing together so memorable,” she concluded. 

Another mother-daughter relationship in which table tennis plays an important role is that of Delyth Evans and her daughter Cerys, who is Tabe Tennis Wales’ Regional Development Officer for Gwent. 

Cerys has played the sport for about 12 years and has followed in her mother’s footsteps by coaching, having done so for the best part of a decade, including seven years within the performance pathway.  

Delyth has been supporting with the coaching at Ael Y Bryn TTC, helping yung players get into the sport and progress into regular, confident players. 

“I remember we used to play at Ael Y Bryn and my mum would help coach the younger players then we would have a knock together,” Cerys told us. “My brother ended up joining as well so it was nice to have all three of us there. 

“She would also take me to North Gwent every week without fail!” 

The pair have enjoyed playing table tennis together for around eight years now, taking advantage of the sport’s power to bring people together.  

“It’s easy to play, affordable, and fun for all ages and abilities,” Cerys said. “Its relaxed, social feel and quick games make it simple for people to jump in, chat, laugh, and enjoy playing together.” 

“A single table tennis table can breathe life into a community room, a park, or a quiet corner of a recreation centre,” added Delyth. “It becomes more than just a game; it’s an invitation, an invitation to pause, to laugh, to challenge someone you might have otherwise walked past. It turns strangers into teammates, and it creates moments where generations, who rarely share the same spaces, find themselves standing side by side, connecting over something wonderfully simple.” 

Passionate about the sport she shares so closely with her mother, Cerys has forged a career in table tennis and support younger players to improve and become more confident. 

“I am incredibly proud of Cerys,” Delyth told us. “She started out simply enjoying table tennis and has now grown into a confident coach who shares her enthusiasm and skills with others. It’s inspiring to watch her progress and passion shine!” 

Table Tennis Wales would like to thank all the mothers who give up countless hours and inspire others in all aspects of life; diolch! Happy Mothers’ Day!