Why Bow Valley College Students Are Rallying Around Table Tennis

When you pass through the third floor of Bow Valley College's North Campus or the second floor os South Campus, part of the experience is the sharp click-clacking of ping pong balls. More than just background noise, it’s the sound of connection, stress relief, and a growing sense of community.

For Ismael Jilani and Ezekiel Ademokoya, table tennis has become an essential part of life at Bow Valley College, helping them find joy, friendship, and a break from the pressures of coursework and life far from home.
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Finding the Game, Finding Each Other

Ismael, a Social Work student, first discovered table tennis in an unexpected way.

“I’d never played table tennis before,” Ismael says. In Somalia, where he is originally from, it simply is not a popular sport. A couple of years ago in his neighbourhood in Calgary, Ismael stumbled upon a public concrete table. “They had some paddles there, just plastic ones, and we started playing for fun.”

That spark followed him to Bow Valley College, where he found a table on campus. He started playing between classes. “I got to meet some friends here just through playing table tennis,” he says. “We would connect and play every day, pretty much.”

Ezekiel’s story echoes much of what Ismael shares. An Information Technology Systems student who arrived in Canada from Nigeria just months ago, Ezekiel found table tennis almost immediately after arriving on campus.

“It was the first thing that caught my attention,” he says. “I saw a couple of people playing and I just picked up the racket.”

Ezekiel did not have friends at the college yet, and the days at school felt very long. Table tennis changed that. “For me, tennis is an escape,” he explains. “If I play tennis, I just feel like my day is fulfilled.”

More Than a Game

Ismael and Ezekiel also insist that table tennis offers much more than it appears.

“Most people tend to think of it as an easy sport,” Ismael says. “But it needs a lot of thinking, a lot of focus, a lot of commitment to improve.”

That commitment has taken Ismael and Ezekiel to CUSTTA, the Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association in Northeast Calgary, where they play and train alongside professional-level competitors, many from the city’s Chinese community. Ismael and Ezekiel have even had paddles custom made for them by a local pro they met through CUSTTA.

Ezekiel shares that through it all, for him, the biggest benefit of playing table tennis is mental health. Being far from home is not easy, and the game helps quiet his homesickness. “Table tennis kicks it out of my mind,” he says. “If this wasn’t here, I’d probably miss home every single day.”

The game has also created bonds across programs, cultures, and schedules. Ismael and Ezekiel met through table tennis, despite studying in completely different programs.

“You might make friends in class for assignments,” Ismael says, “but table tennis makes it so much easier to connect. You play, laugh together, and just have a great time.”

Why It Works at Bow Valley College

Ask Kelty Christensen, an engagement and events advisor with Student Services, and she’ll tell you that part of table tennis’ popularity comes from how accessible it is on campus.

“It provides a way for students to unplug and de‑stress from their studies,” she observes. Table tennis requires little equipment, no prior experience, and no long-term commitment. “Students can pop in for a few minutes between classes for a little recharge, or they can play for a few hours.”

The activity also turns shared spaces into social hubs. Students gather not just to play, but to watch and meet peers from programs they might not otherwise cross paths with.

“It brings students together,” Kelty remarks. “You see students laughing, cheering, and having fun, and it makes the space feel alive and welcoming.”

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Belonging Between Classes

For Ismael, table tennis has become one of the most meaningful parts of his Bow Valley College experience. “It’s a great way to zone out from all the stresses I have in school or even in life.”

Ezekiel puts it simply. "It's fun. That's why it matters."

Kelty sees that impact every day. “Part of the student experience is creating memories that have nothing to do with classes. Ultimately, it creates belonging.”

And judging by the growing crowds around the tables, that sense of belonging is something Bow Valley College students are rallying around, one point at a time.

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