Dallas Teen Serves as Role Model for Next Generation of Table Tennis Umpires
By Joel Lidstrom
Press Committee Member
She commands the court with confidence, a youngster in a typically adult occupation. As I watch today, her job is easy: no disputes over edge balls or hiding of serves—just a single warning about a service toss. And this match is over in ten minutes.
Kanika Dusad stands out among the dozens of umpires in this year’s NCTTA Championships. She is a mere 13, in her second year as an umpire at this three-day tournament, the previous being the 2024 event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She hails from Dallas, Texas, having been enlisted into the world of table tennis umpiring by Scott Ryan, a local Dallas club member and USATT Certified Referee and international umpire.
Thus far at the tournament she has umpired about ten matches. I wondered if she is nervous when they begin..
“I was when I first started, but when I made mistakes, the players would help me. Now I rely a lot on muscle memory. I really enjoy it.”
I asked about some of the difficult challenges an umpire faces: hidden serves, or disputed edge balls.
She thought for a minute as she acknowledged the possibility, but said, “The most that I’ve had to deal with is warning players about an illegal service toss.”
Of course, Kanika is an avid player, and works with a coach at the club where her entire family plays. (Her father is also an umpire at this year’s NCTTA tourney.)
Kanika’s friends think it’s cool that she does this, and one of them has expressed an interest in umpiring badminton matches. Kanika feels that she has been a bit of an inspiration!
As far as aspiring to more opportunities in the future, she said she’s keeping her options open. She loves volunteering for NCTTA, so “…maybe more NCTTA opportunities, like Divisionals and Regionals.”
All of us at NCTTA will be delighted to see her again.
(Photo of Kanika Dusad in umpiring action! Photo credit to Dennis Yanga)
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About 2025 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships
The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and GoRockford (Rockford Convention and Visitors Bureau). The event crowns national champions in Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, Men’s/Coed Teams, and Women’s Teams. Also this year a first in NCTTA’s history is the Collegiate National Team trials on Thursday April 3rd for the 2025 World University Games.
PongSpace, Peaka Pong, Stiga and Paddle Palace will sponsor the event.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday, April 4th on http://www.nctta.org/champs/2025/video.html
About NCTTA
The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively to promote the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competitions throughout North America. www.nctta.org