04.57 pm, Friday May 25 2012

Baby plays ping pong like a pro

13:00 AEDT Mon Feb 6 2012
By Erin Tennant and Alys Francis, ninemsn
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An 18-month-old baby in England has become famous for learning to play ping pong before being able to talk or walk properly.

Video posted on YouTube shows Jamie Myska-Buddell sitting on a table tennis table and hitting ball after ball bounced to him by his dad Kevin Buddell.

Mr Buddell told ninemsn Jamie started playing table tennis while going to tournaments with his parents, who are both experienced players and work as volunteer children's coaches at Woolwell, in Plymouth.

Jamie's mother, former Czech international table tennis player Marketa Myskova, filmed him playing and posted it online so they could show his grandparents.

"We are blown away by the response we have had and only loaded up the video so his grandparents and family in the Czech Republic could see him playing," Mr Buddell said in an email.

The video has since been watched nearly 750,000 times and the family has been courted by media, speaking to reporters on US morning TV show Good Morning America.

Mr Buddell, who has been playing table tennis for 34 years, said Jamie picked up a bat after watching his parents compete.

"He became more and more keen to start climbing onto the table as soon as he sees a free table," said Mr Buddell.

His parents then made a toy ping pong bat and ball for Jamie to play with at home.

"We rigged up a swingball with a table tennis ball on a piece of string at home and he just stands and hits ball after ball — the most remarkable thing is he can hit a bouncing ball," he said.

Mr Buddell said Jamie comes with the family to table tennis tournaments around England and is well known by other players.

"He just loves playing with all balls football, rugby tennis but we just let him do what he likes," he said.

 

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