Emad Barsoum Leading Player at 2014 Butterfly Badger Open

Wilson, NC, September 20, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Emad Barsoum (2501), the top rated player at the 2014 Butterfly Badger Open, loves table tennis for its mental and physical speed. Emad knows that in order to succeed in the sport, you not only have to be disciplined and train hard, but also smart. He likens table tennis training to achieving a goal in life: “you must be very organized and very specific on what you are doing.” Often times, it is the difference of millimeters that determines the winner.

Born in Egypt, Emad played for the Egyptian national team for 10 years before pursuing a professional medical education first in his home country, and now in the US. Before moving to Wisconsin, Emad first landed in New York City where he would train at Spin NYC at 11 p.m. after leaving his hospital shift. Two years ago, Emad moved from NYC to Wisconsin where he continues his anesthesiology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In between his demanding hospital schedule, he still occasionally finds time to pursue his passion for table tennis at the Spin Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Table Tennis Club.

This weekend, Emad hopes to restart his competitive table tennis career in the US by doing the “best he can” while simultaneously completing an anesthesiology residency. However, Emad’s main focus this weekend is to show his two young children (ages 6 and 9) that their father is a champion. After completing his residency in the near future, Emad hopes to spend more time teaching his children table tennis and allowing them to experience the complex sport for themselves.

Continual coverage of the 2014 Butterfly Badger Open and stories about the athletes will be available at butterflyonline.com, or via Butterfly North America’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

As the official table tennis equipment sponsor of the 2014 Butterfly Badger Open, Butterfly will supply professional, ITTF approved Butterfly table tennis tables, net sets, barriers and Butterfly ITTF approved, 3-star 40mm balls. The professional tables used at this tournament are for sale, reserve one today by visiting Butterflyonline.com/Tours.