JOOLA USA

Erick Shahnazari

Age/DOB: 11/September 6, 1996
Home Club: San Gabriel Valley TTC

Equipment

Racket: JOOLA K5

Forehand sponge: JOOLA Mambo GP 2.0

Backhand sponge: JOOLA Mambo GP 2.0

Shoes: JOOLA Bend

What are your best titles or rankings?

• 2005 NATT San Diego Open Under 10 Boys' Champion
• 2005 Newgy Open Under 10 Boys' Champion
• 2006 NATT Western Open Under 10 Boys' Champion
• 2006 NATT San Diego Open Under 10 Boys' Champion
• 2006 Berkeley Open Under 13 Boys' Finalist
• 2006 Mathew Murad Memorial Open Under 10 Boys' Finalist
• 2007 Berkeley Open Under 13 Boys' Champion and Under 1700 Finalist

When and how did you start playing?
Back in 2003, my dad was competing in the Pan-Armenian Games in Yerevan, Armenia. My whole family was over there & I was introduced to the Armenian National Team coach who was European Team Junior Champion with the USSR. After one hour of playing with him for the first time, he told my dad that I am talented. So I started to practice after I came back to the U.S.

Describe your playing style.
I am an all-round player with the ability to topspin from both sides.

Who are your coaches, past or present? Who do you practice with?
My first coach was Attila Malek. Since January, 2005, my coach has been Grace Lin. I practice with her twice a week. I also practice with Cheng Yi Du, Misha Kazantsev, and Ramin Samari once a week. Also, every summer time I practice with Anton Stefko in Germany.

What are you currently working on?
With Grace Lin, I practice footwork & overall game strategies. With Cheng Du, I practice topspin and blocking. With Misha and Ramin, I practice service, service return, and counter-looping.

What are your TT goals?
My short-term goal is to play my best in the U.S. Open. After the U.S. Open, I will go to Germany for one month where I will practice hard six days a week. My intermediate goals are to make the Cadet Boys National Team next year and compete internationally in cadet and junior tournaments. My long-term goals are to play in the German Bundesliga [German League] and play for U.S. Team at the World Championships and the Olympics.

What are your interests outside table tennis?
My school, church, piano, videogames, skiing, basketball, and also who will be the next U.S. President.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
Some of my friends in school say I'm completely crazy because I play table tennis. I also do crazy shots in basketball and swish them. But I'm a normal kid who plays excellent piano and table tennis.

I want to thank God who gave me the talent, my family, relatives, and anybody who has supported me. I also thank JOOLA USA for sponsoring me.