Mal Lang from Pong Detroit

Scott: When did you start playing table tennis and why did you start?

Mal: I started around 4 years old. We had a table in the basement and I played with my dad. When relatives would come over I’d play with my uncles and cousins and it would get really competitive.

Scott: When did Pong Detroit open up for business?

Mal: I started Pong Detroit in January of 2000. We shut down 3 months later due to the pandemic and reopened in April of 2001.

Scott: What community programs does Pong Detroit offer?

Mal: We started a Detroit Youth Training Program to get kids off their devices and phones and get them some exercise in a fun, safe, Olympic sport. We had to shut it down for covid but will be restarting it soon. We teamed up with the RIM Foundation SportsAbility group at the DMC to start a wheelchair table tennis program. We do our wheelchair table tennis clinic once a month and its going really well. Wheelchair table tennis is a Paralympic Sport. We are working with the local chapter of the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation, Team Fox Detroit, to start a table tennis program for Parkinson’s patients. Table Tennis has proven to be good therapy and increases motor skills and helps mood. We are teaming up with the Detroit Council for the Aging to start a seniors program.

Scott: What was a roadblock in your journey and how did you overcome that roadblock?

Mal: Securing the funds to get equipment to start and finding a large enough space were the early challenges. Had to get creative to get the funds and used loans from friends and a Kiva loan to help. I had been to Bert’s Warehouse for the Golden Gloves Boxing tournament and other events and thought it would be a good place to start.

Scott: What are your goals for the next year?

Mal: Getting moved into our own space where we can expand our hours and programming.

Scott: One positive thing about yourself?

Mal: What I lack in experience and funds I make up for with sheer persistence. I think in the final analysis this is the best trait to have to succeed.

Scott: What is something many people don’t know about you?

Mal: I’m a former journalist and radio dj.