Building Friendships Through Table Tennis

Mr Chua Hock Seng stopped exercising with his friends at TOUCHpoint@AMK 433 when his younger brother passed on two years ago. “During that period, I was trying to deal with my grief. I did not feel like meeting people,” says Mr Chua, who used to be an outgoing person.

The 75-year-old, who lives with his wife, also suffers from back issues and weak legs, which cause him pain and discomfort. This further deterred him from leaving the house to meet friends, resulting in him being cooped up at home with limited social interaction.   

Mr Chua was then introduced to CREST TOUCH @ Cheng San-Seletar in 2023 – a mental wellness programme developed by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and the Ministry of Health. The CREST team at TOUCHpoint@AMK 433 worked with him to restore his mental wellbeing and confidence and connected him with other seniors to provide psychosocial support.  

Common interests, stronger bonds

All it took was a coffeeshop meetup, a table tennis interest group, and some nudging from staff and residents, to get Mr Chua back on his feet. 

“We are glad to see Mr Chua opening up after his first coffeeshop gathering. He met other seniors over breakfast and befriended them. It’s easier to bond over a cup of coffee in a relaxed and familiar environment. Through this platform, we hope to get to know other seniors better and invite them to attend our activities at our active ageing centre. Understanding their interests will also help us plan meaningful activities that cater to their needs,” says Ms Chai Hui Min, Centre Manager of TOUCHpoint@AMK 433.

A breakthrough came when Mr Chua approached one of his friends, who attends TOUCHpoint@AMK 433, to see if they could set up a table tennis interest group there. “I used to play table tennis at the void deck. But if I can play at the centre or somewhere nearby, I can invite my friends over to play with other seniors. This will benefit more people,” Mr Chua adds. 

Working with TOUCH staff, the table tennis interest group saw its first session well attended by volunteers, seniors and staff, including seven friends invited by Mr Chua. Today, the group remains active with some 30 participants who play regularly, including seniors who also play pickleball and Chinese chess at the void deck. 

Caption: Mr Chua finds fulfilment in his role as an active ageing advocate

Caption: Mr Chua (left) enjoying a game of table tennis with his friends

Caption: Mr Chua (first row middle) flanked by members of the table tennis interest group

“We laugh as we play. It is so fun! Soon, the group started growing and we had to organise more sessions to accommodate more players. I am happy to see everyone having a good time,” adds Mr Chua with a smile.

“I try my best to be happy. I live one day at a time. As seniors, we must find things to occupy our time, learn to eat well and cook healthily. Even my wife has observed that I am happier.”

As his passion for table tennis grew, so did his contributions, including providing table tennis equipment and helping out with logistics. Mr Chua hopes more seniors will join him at TOUCHpoint@AMK 433 to remain active, healthy and socially connected.

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TOUCH runs five Active Ageing Centres (AACs) located in Ang Mo Kio, Geylang Bahru, Wellington and Yishun. AACs serve all seniors living within the neighbourhood, and act as a go-to-point to receive timely access to quality care. Our AACs are supported by TOUCH’s trans-disciplinary team of eldercare specialists, leveraging community resources to achieve long-term wellness to prevent and delay frailty, and to help seniors age well in the community.   

Story published in 2024.