Top competitors turn out for first Valley Paddle Battle

Menglin Hi (left), of Norman, serves the ball during a practice match with Dennis Rhodes (right), of Oklahoma City, and Imre Simonji, of Norman, at the Valley Paddle Battle Saturday.
Menglin Hi (left), of Norman, serves the ball during a practice match with Dennis Rhodes (right), of Oklahoma City, and Imre Simonji, of Norman, at the Valley Paddle Battle Saturday.

The first-ever Valley Paddle Battle saw nearly 1,200 total table tennis games played at the Donald W. Reynolds Recreation Center in Pauls Valley Saturday.

Matt Hamilton, president of the Pauls Valley Tennis and Racquet Association, which sponsored the inaugural pingpong tournament, said the event drew 57 individuals from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Utah to play in Pauls Valley over the weekend. Tho…