Tara Murray
After taking some time off table tennis, the decision to return to the sport seriously has paid off for Melton’s Chris Addis.
Addis will be part of the Australian para-table tennis team for the Paris Paralympics and will compete in the men’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles.
Addis said it was pretty exciting to get his shot at the Games.
“It is pretty special,” he said. “I probably thought from a year out or so that I might be a good shot of making the team.
Ï trained hard and made all the tournaments. It’s incredible.”
Addis, who was born with Spina Bifida, tried a number of sports growing up before falling in love with table tennis.
He has been playing ever since.
“I’ve been playing for the last 20 years,” he said. “I started in high school and I was playing with a friend and he took me to the local club and I never looked back.”
He said his mum always believed that he could go far, but he could have never imagined where he would get with his table tennis.
Addis made an Australian team for the World Championships in 2014 having made his Australian debut in 2011.
He then took a break from the sport.
“I had some time off to have some kids,” he said. “I had not been playing internationally for the last eight years or so.
“The kids are a bit older now, nine and six. They have a bit of an idea [what the Olympics are], especially the nine-year-old
“He is pretty proud.”
The 35-year-old takes inspiration not only from his family but Paralympian Kurt Fearnley, who he says became a leader in Para-sport at a time where the sport hadn’t been as prominent.
Addis said the Melton Table Tennis Club has been one of his biggest supporters since he started.
He said his aims for the Games are pretty simple.
“Basically I want to play my best,” he said. I want to really enjoy the experience, try to remember all the training and hope it pays off.”
Addis has one piece of advice for anything thinking of taking up the sport.
“Go and try it,” he said. “Get to a local club and see where it takes you.”
Team mate Nathan Pellissier was full of praise of Addis.
“It was really pleasing to see Chris come back and cement his spot in the Paralympic team. It was a really good moment for the whole team. It’s a shame for Caleb [Crowden, who missed out], but he’s young and has time.”
