Don Deeble Rising Star nominee Nathan Pellisier. 69150 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Michael Esposito
NATHAN Pellisier fell into table tennis by accident.
The 15-year-old Williamstown resident, who was born with right hemiplegia cerebral palsy, initially wanted to forge a career in basketball, but by sheer luck was identified as a potential table tennis star.
As Pellisier explained: “I went to a Paralympic talent search day in Altona (in 2009) and I wanted to do basketball, but they only had wheelchair basketball and then the guy who was running it thought I was OK at table tennis.”
“He got me onto some coaches and I liked it and started to train more.”
By the age of 13, Pellisier was in the Australian Paralympic Preparation Table Tennis Program and is now looking to qualify for the 2012 London Paralympics.
To do so, he needs to reach the top 16 in the world in coming tournaments in London, Taiwan and Hong Kong. He currently sits 36th in the world in his disability category – a fair achievement for a 15-year-old who didn’t even have a ranking 12 months ago.
His achievements have earned him this month’s nomination for the annual Don Deeble Rising Star Award, which is run by Sunshine Western Region Sports Club in conjunction with Star News Group.
He will receive $1000, donated by Yarraville Club Cricket club, and other prizes.
Pellisier, who is coached by Australia’s No.1 table tennis player William Henzell, recently won a bronze medal at the Arafura Games in Darwin.
But his breakthrough tournament was in fact his first tournament last year, when he represented Australia at the Taipei Para Open Championships in Taiwan.
He won enough matches to attain a world ranking of 41.
“I did not think I was going to win a match so when I won matches there I was very happy,” he said.
Pellisier has managed to balance his schoolwork with his regular overseas sporting commitments. In this, his first year at specialist sports school Maribyrnong College, Pellisier has not only had his table tennis improved out of sight, but he is excelling academically, having been accepted to an accelerated class next year.
“It’s just changed so much because when I was at my old school I didn’t have anyone supporting me with my schoolwork or getting me prepared for tournaments. I feel much stronger and less stressed about things because they’re comfortable with people travelling all the time,” he said.
The Don Deeble Rising Star Award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have reached state or national level in their sport.
