April Eleventh: Shaking Up the Table Tennis World

Warren Rosenberg and Nenad Bach - MetroSports Magazine April 6 2021

There are many meanings to the number eleven. In Numerology the number 11 is a master number and represents inspiration, illumination, and spiritual enlightenment.

Numerologists speculate that November 11th is the luckiest day of the year because it's doubling the “master number” of 11. Those who follow numerology believe that the day is full of potential and that wishes will be granted.

The number eleven also has a special place for those afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease. April 11th is recognized as World Parkinson’s Day because it is the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson, born on that day in 1755, who first described the condition of this pathology in his 1817 publication, “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy”.

Eleven is also the name of the virtual reality table tennis game by Oculus, an operating unit of Facebook.

It therefore makes eminent sense that the 501.c.3 organization, Ping Pong Parkinson, would hold the first ever Ping Pong Parkinson Virtual Reality World Table Tennis Championship on April 11, 2021 and using the Oculus Eleven platform. The Parkinson’s Virtual Reality World Table Tennis Championships is a new tournament for players with Parkinson’s disease. It is the first-ever virtual reality Parkinson’s world championships, coming after the successful inaugural ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships, held in 2019 in collaboration with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTF Foundation).

Above: Seven-time Olympian Zolan Primorac with his Oculus headset in a promotional piece for the event

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ping Pong Parkinson’s founder, Nenad Bach, has partnered with Eleven Table Tennis (ELEVEN) founder, Roman Rekhler, to host the 2021 championships virtually. The 11 April tournament will precede the Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships in Berlin, to be held from 9-11 September 2021.

Above: Ping Pong Parkinson founder, Nenad Bach's, Oculus Eleven game view

By supporting, participating or sharing about this event you are joining other people with Parkinson’s and VR enthusiasts to embrace a new normal post-covid-19, exploring together a new way to play table tennis, helping create awareness about Parkinsons and the possibilities of a more enjoyable life through play.

“Coronavirus changed our lives for better and for worse. I’m dedicated to improving a virtual reality platform that will help, going beyond social distancing and extending friendships all over the globe” -Nenad Bach, Ping Pong Parkinson founder.

“I’m honored and intrigued to be part of this progressive idea that has the potential of helping millions of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease” – Zoran Primorac, Olympian and Ping Pong Parkinson advisor.

Already registered to compete at the time of this article are athletes from the U.S., Denmark, England, Germany, Scotland and Sweden.